Police are investigating the theft from the Dunedin suburb of Pine Hill of a car that was involved in a crash soon after.
Senior Sergeant Liz Waru, of Dunedin, said the Holden, parked outside a Pine Hill Rd house, was taken between 11pm on Tuesday and 12.50am yesterday. The vehicle was unlocked and had keys in its ignition.
The thief lost control of it in Gowland St and crashed through a small wooden fence, stopping in Wilson's car park in Emily Siedeberg Pl, Snr Sgt Waru said.
A single occupant was seen to ‘‘casually'' walk away from the vehicle. They have not been found.
Police were also investigating other dishonesty offences from the past few days, including the burglary of a shop in Princes St, where money was taken from the till. Entry was gained between 5.30pm on Monday and 8.30am on Tuesday by ripping a lock from a sliding door.
It was not known how much money was stolen, but the person probably had knowledge of the premises, Snr Sgt Waru said.
‘‘The person seemed to know their way around.''
Senior Sergeant Brian Benn, of Southern District Command Centre, said police were also investigating a break-in at Burnside Service Station, in Main South Rd, Green Island, about 2am yesterday. The offender, who was caught on CCTV cameras, left with some packets of Port Royal tobacco.
