The theft of parts from an auto electrician in Palmerston was planned, the co-owner believes.
East Otago Auto Electrical Ltd co-owner Debbie Burrow said between 15 and 20 alternators and starter motors were stolen from her business at the weekend.
The parts for cars and trucks were stolen from drums in a ''closed yard'' at the business in Tiverton St.
''They jumped the fence and shovelled the stuff under the fence,'' Mrs Burrow said.
She believes more than one person was involved.
The broken parts, which contained alloy and copper, would have been targeted by the thieves to sell as scrap metal.
''They knew what they wanted.''
The parts would fetch about $400 from a scrap metal dealer, she said.
She was ''annoyed'' by the burglary because she believed the thieves knew the parts were in the yard and they had targeted them, rather than it being a random crime.
The business had never been targeted before.
Dunedin police (03) 471-4800, Crimestoppers 0800 555-111.
