Dunedin's reputation as a tourism destination is at risk of being tarnished by thieves targeting camper vans, police say.
Acting Sergeant Karl Hemmingsen, of Dunedin, said thieves have been targeting car parks at tourist hot spots such as Sandfly Bay and Sandymount on Otago Peninsula.
Since the start of spring, about a dozen vehicles had been broken into, with thieves taking items including cash and electronic goods.
With summer approaching and visitor numbers increasing, he warned people to watch for suspicious behaviour at car parks.
''The trouble is these tourists turn up in camper vans and it's a goldmine. You have usually got laptops and iPads and all sorts in them.''
Having items stolen could ruin a tourist's holiday and had the potential to ''tarnish the city's name''.
''You know how people talk about Italy, getting ripped off there. You don't want them to be talking about Dunedin in the same way.''
The problem had been around a long time, but Acting Sgt Hemmingsen was investigating possible solutions, including the using CCTV.
He was speaking to people in the surrounding communities about nearby landowners keeping an eye on the car parks.
Portobello Village Tourist Park owner-operator Sherryl Charles had been told about the thefts, but was not aware of any involving her guests.
She believed some tourists did not take precautions they would at home because of their impression of New Zealand and because the people they met here were so friendly.
In an effort to reduce the risk, she advised tourists to leave their most valuable items at the park, Mrs Charles said.
