Gone: A shelter in Henderson had its seat stolen, leaving elderly residents standing while waiting for their bus.

Vandals targeting bus shelters cost Auckland ratepayers millions of dollars, including the stealing of seats.

Figures released under a Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act reveal that $1.2 million was spent on repairs of bus shelters across the region in 2017.

A further $3674 was spent on replacing missing bus shelter seats.

Auckland Transport spokesman Mark Hannan said the "senseless vandalism of seats" was particularly concerning.

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"These directly impact our elderly and disabled community who have a required need for them."

TORIKA TOKALAU/STUFF The stealing of bus stop seats was not common, but happened about twice a year, AT says.

North Auckland raked up the highest bill of $533,000 for bus shelter repair works in 2017, while Central Auckland had almost $400,000 works done.

Damage in West Auckland and South Auckland cost $176,000 and $159,000 respectively.

A bus stop seat on East Coast Rd in Northcross went missing in April this year. Another went missing in Henderson in June.

James Ireland from AT said it would be safe to assume the Henderson bus stop seat was stolen.

"Stolen bus stop seats is very uncommon, it only happens about twice a year," Ireland said.

Last year, a seat was also stolen from a bus shelter in Mt Albert.

Adshel owned all bus shelters with advertising on them. Adshel head Scott Mather said although stolen seats hadn't been a problem recently, eight in Rosebank Rd in Avondale were targeted five years ago.

The aluminium seat slats from these shelters were stolen then at an expense of about $2500.

Hannan said the cost of vandalism affected AT's ability to make improvements.

"The more funds that are needed for unplanned maintenance due to vandalism is funds that compete with improvements and proactive maintenance to enhance the Bus network within communities."

Hannan encouraged Aucklanders to take a community-centric approach to safe guarding local bus facilities and actively deter and report such acts of vandalism immediately on 09 366 6400.