Whangarei police concerned about car break-ins

A number of break-ins into cars at busy shopping areas in Whangarei has prompted a police warning for people to secure their vehicles and to keep valuables out of sight.

Whangarei police received 23 reports of cars been broken into and shoplifting between Friday last week and 1.30pm yesterday and although no suspects have been identified, police believe a group was responsible.

Senior Sergeant Darren Sullivan said vehicles parked in the Okara Park shopping centre and The Warehouse car park in particular had been repeatedly targeted.

In one incident, the back passenger window of a car parked at The Warehouse car park was smashed about 2.30pm on Saturday and a battery drill, DVDs and a pair of sunglasses were stolen.

"Anything that seems to be of value is stolen. The message to the public is to ensure your vehicles are secure and valuable items hidden away from sight," Mr Sullivan said.

There had also been two shoplifting incidents at Okara Park.

Mr Sullivan said along with cars at Okara Park shopping centre, vehicles on Port Rd, Clyde St, lower Tarewa Rd, Raumanga Valley Rd and Beach Rd in Onerahi were also targeted.

One of the windows of a car parked outside Plumbing World on Okara Drive was smashed about 5pm on Saturday and bags of concrete and 25kg of concrete nails were stolen.

"We've got no nominated suspects at the moment but we'll look at CCTV footage and go from there. We just want to highlight the safety messages to people out and about at this time of the year," he said.