Two car thefts over the last week have highlighted the importance of locking cars and removing valuables, Wānaka Police Senior Sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts says.

Overnight last Wednesday (August 6) a work vehicle was stolen from the roadside on Burdon Loop in Longview.

The vehicle has since been recovered and the theft is under investigation, Fi said.

A few nights later a vehicle was stolen from outside the owner’s home on Stone Street. It was later found damaged further along the same road.

In the second incident the vehicle was unlocked and the keys were left in it, Fi said.

“Please lock your vehicles, remove valuables, and the big one: don’t leave your keys in your cars,” she said. 

“This complacent mindset creates an opportunity for a thief to exploit.”

Over the past week Wānaka Police also dealt with a potential attempted break-in and dangerous driving.

In the early hours of last Monday (August 4) police responded to an incident on Kelliher Drive. 

“A concerned resident called police after hearing a disturbance at the rear of a property before hearing a screen door open and someone trying the door handle,” Fi said.

“Police responded and were unable to locate anyone.”

Last Friday (August 8) a 34-year-old man was stopped on SH8A travelling at 168kph.

“The obvious risk to other road users was the dangerous speed, Fi said. 

“The secondary aggravating factor was the damp road conditions. Winter road conditions apply to everyone at this time of year.

“The third was [that] the driver had four passengers in the vehicle.”

The driver was charged with dangerous driving and, after a court appearance where he pled guilty, he was disqualified from driving and fined.

Fi also reminded people that while weather conditions are changeable there are more hazards on the road.

“Watch your speed and drive to the conditions as the winter factors contribute to poor handling and radically reduce stopping distances. We had reports across the area of snow, ice and black ice that caught a few people out.”

Call 111 when you need an emergency response from police, fire or ambulance.

Call 105 for traffic related complaints.

To make an anonymous crime report contact Crime Stoppers.

PHOTO: Supplied