Residents of Dove's Bay Rd, near Kerikeri, are being urged to check their cars, sheds and properties after a crime spree ended with three teenage boys bailed up in the bush by a police dog.
A Dove's Bay resident called 111 at 3am on Tuesday when he heard noises outside his bedroom and saw several teens scarper.
A police dog located three teens in the bush about 4.15am. A fourth allegedly escaped in a stolen car but was arrested later at Ohaeawai.
Detective Constable Bill Dawson, of the Kerikeri CIB, said the teens admitted to a night-long crime spree which started when they broke into vehicles in Kaikohe. He said they stole a car and drove to Mangonui, broke into more vehicles, then headed to Doves Bay Rd where it seemed they had "gone pretty much house-to-house".
As well as the car break-ins, they had admitted searching outbuildings and under houses at up to 10 properties, placing items such as a brushcutter and meat from shed freezers on the roadside to collect later.