With thefts, burglaries and car break-ins on the rise lately, people need to lock their homes and cars, police say.
Sergeant Tony Woodbridge, of Oamaru, said the recent increase in such crimes was concerning and people needed to "be aware of suspicious people''.
An intelligence analyst would be going through reported crimes to try to identify patterns of behaviour and causes.
"The bottom line is there's criminals out there that need to be stopped.
"Oamaru's like what New Zealand use to be. You didn't lock your cars; you didn't lock your house. But times have changed and now Oamaru has dishonest people in it.''
Burglary and other dishonesty crimes such as theft significantly affected the victims, he said.
"It's not so much the items that have been stolen, though that's important too, it's the fact that you have had some people you don't know, some criminal person, enter your area.
"It really affects people.
"It leaves kids scared. It leaves parents upset. As far as trust goes, it changes the whole picture of what goes on around someone.''
● Oamaru police (03) 433-1400, Crimestoppers 0800 555-111.
