Rental property owners are being warned to take extra security precautions following a recent spate of burglaries in Christchurch.
Six burglaries made through popular accommodation booking websites over the space of a week have been connected, police say.
"The offenders are booking properties through these sites using stolen credit cards, turning up and stripping them bare, taking everything from lounge suites and bedding to whiteware," Christchurch Tactical Crime Detective Sergeant Colin Baillie says.
"There are a number of steps people can take to keep their property safe.
Those steps include meeting with, or having an agent meet with renters and sighting photo identification such as a passport or driver's licence.
"Many local sites do these checks for you, however, some large, international sites don't offer that service.
"In that case, we urge property owners to make the checks themselves and ensure renters are who they say they are," Detective Sergeant Baillie says.
He says this may mean contacting the booking platform to ensure the transaction is legitimate.
"You're essentially opening your door to strangers so make sure you have the right measures in place to protect your investment.
"Police are focused on preventing crime in our communities, however, we cannot do it alone. So, if you neighbour a rental property of this type, please report any unusual activity."
Enquiries into the burglaries and any links between them are ongoing, police say.
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