Office workers who leave their belongings on or by their desks are being warned to be wary of thieves after a "stair-dancing" incident in Napier.
Stair dancers are described by police as opportunist thieves who wander into and through office areas and businesses looking for the opportunity to make off with someone's belongings.
Community constable for the Onekawa, Tamatea and Pandora districts, Mike Burne, said the incident earlier this month involved a woman working at an office in Edmundson St leaving her handbag on the floor beside her desk.
"It was left unattended for a very short period of time - someone has taken the opportunity to dip in and steal her wallet."
Mr Burne said it appeared the woman discovered the theft only at lunch time when she went to get the wallet.
The incident was similar to others reported in the past.
"We have had these stair dancers around the place who have drifted in and out of premises, helping themselves without being detected."
Mr Burne said the thieves were brazen.
"It doesn't take long for something to get grabbed if it is unattended and easily accessible when there is a dishonest person around."
Thefts at work were often "awkward" for all concerned, Mr Burne said, adding that people needed to be more mindful about the security of their possessions at work.
"It's easy to be relaxed about leaving your wallet on the smoko table or leaving your locker open with all your stuff in it."
Mr Burne said thieves would take advantage of businesses where people like genuine customers and visitors regularly came and went during a working day by aiming to blend in.
His advice was for people to look at where they were leaving their personal items and consider how safe they were.
If the storage spot could be compromised then people needed to come up with a solution, he said.