Three teenagers are accused of spending $1200 using a stolen credit card, buying orange items in an effort to start a new gang.

Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller

Police allege a 17-year-old boy and his 13-year-old brother stole a credit card from a car in the Dunedin suburb of Northeast Valley on Sunday.

Senior Sergeant Craig Dinnissen said the pair, alongside a 15-year-old girl, were accused of using the card's paywave function to make purchases of $80 or less at retailers in central Dunedin.

After several purchases at a sporting goods store, staff from the outlet alerted another shop to the activity.

An "eagle-eyed retail worker" at the second shop was then able to get the name on the credit card, police said.

Police say the trio purchased Playstation games and headphones, along with orange bandanas, socks, caps and backpacks.

Mr Dinnissen said it was the orange gear that led police to call them the Vit-Cs.

The 17-year-old has been been charged and was due to appear in Dunedin District Court today, while the other two were referred to police youth aid.