Petrol thieves in Napier have been targeting vehicles with unguarded rubber filler pipes between the cap and the tank - leading to a call from police for owners to take security measures.
There had been a string of recent thefts of petrol and diesel reported in the industrial areas of Onekawa and Pandora, taken mainly from vehicles parked in yards.
Insecure fuel caps had led to some of the diesel thefts and three thefts of petrol involved the same approach.
Thieves had cut into rubber fuel filler pipes, which were mainly used for commercial purposes.
Community Constable Mike Burne said he had spoken to an employee at a panel engineering firm who had come across similar incidents while working in Australia.
The problem had been addressed by the retro-fitting of stainless steel wire mesh over the filler pipes which prevented it being cut with a knife.
Mr Burne also spoke to an engineer who said there were several different types of strengthened piping on the market, certified for petrol use, which could not be cut and could be used to replace rubber hoses.
He suggested car owners with obvious rubber pipes get them adapted and cut proofed.