Police in Central Otago are asking for the public’s help to locate a stolen vehicle and two dogs following a burglary in Alexandra.
The incident occurred on Saturday, 3 January, with police confirming that a vehicle linked to the burglary was later abandoned near Ōmakau.
A second vehicle, a white Holden Colorado ute, was then stolen from Ōmakau at about 1pm. At the time it was taken, the ute was towing a trailer and the owner’s dogs were inside the vehicle.
While the trailer has since been recovered, police say the ute and dogs remain missing.
Officers are urging anyone who witnessed the incident, has information about the vehicle or dogs, or who may have dashcam, mobile phone or CCTV footage from the Maniototo area to come forward. Information can be provided to police via 105 using reference number 260103/4368, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
There seems to be an unprecedented increase in crime in the Otago area
But there is no official data yet showing a region‑wide spike