Seven firearms were stolen from a Hamilton property during the weekend.

Police say the owner had his weapons hidden and locked up in a garage but left the keys in his unlocked car after going to bed.

The offenders used tools found inside the garage to force entry into the gun cabinet.

It is the second theft of firearms in the region in recent weeks. In March, eight weapons were stolen from a rural property at Opoutere on the Coromandel Peninsula.

Police say it is important that gun owners have multi-layered security and periodically reassess security arrangements.