Wangaratta recently experienced a spike in such offending, with the thieves targeting the north western end of the city.

Acting Senior Sergeant Damien Peppler said about 10 cars had been targeted in the Edwards Street and College Street area.

Other vehicles may have been targeted without the owners’ knowledge, or may have gone unreported.

Similar offending has been reported on the Border.

Police are warning people to take steps to avoid becoming a victim.

“There were quite a few cars being targeted,” Acting Senior Sergeant Peppler said.

“It’s unlocked cars in the north west of Wangaratta.

“We just want to remind everyone to lock their cars, even when they’re in your garage.”

Police are conducting operations in the area as part of a bid to crack down on the offending. 

The thieves generally target the handles of a large number of cars to find those left unlocked. 

Acting Senior Sergeant Peppler said most of the Wangaratta offending had occurred on Friday and Saturday nights. 

“They will just try cars until they get one that's left open,” he said. 

“They'll generally take loose change, or other valuables like phones and laptops. 

“It's a reminder for people not to leave those items in their cars either.”

There were 95 theft from motor car offences recorded in Wangaratta in the the year to June, and 143 counts recorded in Wodonga during the same period. 

Police recorded 568 thefts from cars in the Albury region in the year to September.