Stuff joined police door knocking in East Auckland trying to tackle car crime.

Who leaves their car unlocked?

It's a question baffling police in Auckland as they continue to tackle vehicle crime across the city.

In the city's east, Counties Manukau police are on a mission to get the public to help prevent themselves from being targets.

Residents leaving cars unlocked in their driveways are making for easy pickings.

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In a four-day period alone in the Howick and Mellons Bay areas a number of cars were broken into or were stolen.

JARRED WILLIAMSON/STUFF Inspector Chris Barry and tactical crime unit Detective Constable Melissa Sundgren door knocking on Wednesday.

Five of these crimes occurred in one day, August 30, and all of those cars were unlocked.

According to police, two vehicles that were stolen had the keys inside the unlocked car.

In one case a garage was open overnight in Bucklands Beach with the keys left inside.

Inspector Chris Barry said the community also had a responsibility to help avoid them being targeted.

"When a thief breaks into a vehicle and steals something valuable, it creates incentive for them to return and keep offending in the area," he said.

It's an issue not confined to one suburb, as offenders often moved around.

JARRED WILLIAMSON/STUFF There has been a noticeable spike in Mellons Bay, east Auckland of unlocked cars being stolen or broken into.

It's a message all members of the public needed to take seriously, Barry said.

"Victims of vehicle crime experience significant cost and inconvenience so we want to prevent this crime being from committed or enabled through poor security."

In another incident, a car was stolen in Pakuranga on September 2 after the owner left the car unlocked, engine running, when they went into a shop.

Barry said police patrols have increased around targeted areas. Investigators were also chasing a number of leads.

Stuff joined Barry and tactical crime unit Detective Melissa on Wednesday as police door knocked around Mellons Bay.

A number of non-front line police were also involved in exercise.

JARRED WILLIAMSON/STUFF Police spoke with residents and gave them advice on preventing being targeted for theft.

Residents who were at home said they were aware of cars being broken into, particularly tradies' work vehicles.

One said people had come onto their property in the early hours, but their sensor lights had likely scared them off.

Some said they had read about it on community forums on Neighbourly.co.nz and Facebook.

One address visited with police found a van unlocked in the driveway, with a garage remote inside.

Expensive electronic equipment was also easily visible inside the house.

Police recommended people always lock their vehicle while they're not in it, either securing them in a locked garage or in a well-lit area.

Valuables should also be removed from cars.

Barry said tradies' vehicles were a "magnet" for offenders, particularly for the tools.

He said they should try parking their vehicle in a locked garage or removing their tools overnight.

He also recommended installing a quality car alarm.

Call 111 immediately if you witness suspicious behaviour. Any information on offending or stolen property can be reported by calling 09 261 1300 or call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.