A spike in stolen property reports is keeping Wanaka police busy this week, with most victims described as "trusting" people who had left their property unattended.
Senior Sergeant Allan Grindell said when contacted yesterday in most cases, "it's lots of young people, all about opportunity, people leaving property lying around, too trusting".
Stolen property included skis (from an open garage and from unlocked roof racks) and day packs containing money and identification.
A registered mail package containing an orthopaedic shoe has also been stolen from a letter box in Halliday Rd.
"In the last two weeks we've had five burglaries and three thefts from cars," Snr Sgt Grindell said.
A GPS system was taken from a vehicle parked at Wanaka Airport; skis and other equipment were taken from a vehicle in Bremner Bay; and two snowboards were stolen from a vehicle parked at Glendhu Bay.
There was no suggestion an organised group was targeting vehicles. The thefts all occurred in the early afternoon, Snr Sgt Grindell said.
• A Wanaka man received minor injuries when his arm became trapped in a linen press at an Anderson Rd laundry yesterday morning.
St John paramedic Rod Walker said the man was taken to the Wanaka Medical Centre for treatment.
