Police have urged Subaru owners across the wider Dunedin area to take extra precautions following a spike in vehicle thefts in recent months.
Almost 30 incidents involving stolen Subaru vehicles had been recorded across the Otago Coastal area, with a significant increase during October.
Otago Coastal Police Inspector Sam Ramsay said the vehicle thefts were "frustrating" and "disruptive" for victims.
"Having your vehicle stolen can have a significant impact on people's daily lives, and we know these incidents cause considerable inconvenience and stress," he said.
"Offenders are targeting Subaru vehicles, and we want to remind people to take steps to help protect their vehicles wherever possible."
Ramsay said offenders were commonly targeting vehicles parked on public streets, particularly in residential areas.
"In many cases there is little or no sign of forced entry, with offenders exploiting known vulnerabilities in some vehicle models," he added.
While many of the stolen vehicles had since been recovered, police remained concerned about the risks posed by stolen vehicles being driven on roads.
"It's unacceptable, and while we're actively following a number of leads, we also rely on information from the public to help identify those responsible."
Police were encouraging Subaru owners to park their vehicles off-street or in a locked garage, and consider using steering wheel locks, immobilisers or alarms.
Motorists were also encouraged to ensure their vehicles were locked, even when parked at home.
"Simple security measures can make a vehicle less attractive to offenders and may prevent a theft from occurring," Ramsay said.
Anyone who witnessed suspicious behaviour around parked vehicles was urged to contact police on 111 if it is happening at the time, or 105 after the event.
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