The theft of 13 heavy and light vehicles since the start of this month has Oamaru police appealing for help from motorists who see trucks being driven erratically late at night.
The vehicles were taken from around Otago and South Canterbury, and some were later found near where others had been stolen.
That included a Mazda 323 taken from Mosgiel, then a series of other thefts ending with a truck from Waitaki Transport in Oamaru, found abandoned at the Tinwald stockyards in Ashburton.
Detective Sergeant Dan Keno said yesterday that over a period of roughly three weeks, between February 1 and 20, six heavy motor vehicles and seven light vehicles were taken from transport yards or rural and semi-rural properties.
He believed the thefts were linked.
"The theft of these types of vehicles is rare. It's occurring overnight between midnight and 7am, and not occurring on any particular days of the week."
Vehicles with keys left in the ignition or left somewhere in the vehicle were being targeted.
"Police appeal to all drivers who travel overnight on the roads in and around North Otago and South Canterbury to keep an eye out for anything suspicious, or heavy or light vehicles being driven in a poor manner," Det Sgt Keno said.
He asked people in North Otago or South Canterbury to report. -
• Any heavy truck being driven poorly - for example crunching gears, erratic driving or kerb-hopping corners with trailer wheels.
• Any heavy truck or vehicle that did not appear to be in the right place at the right time - for example, a fertiliser spreader, a builder's truck or a farmer's truck travelling in the middle of the night.
People can report anything suspicious by telephoning 111 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
