Adelaide police might be hoping to catch some thieves red-handed.

Up to one tonne of tomatoes has been stolen from a glasshouse at Virginia, in the northern suburbs.

Police said the break-in happened overnight at premises in Park Road.

The tomato haul has been valued at $4,000.

Police said it would have taken four or five people several hours to strip the tomatoes from the vines.

Some have suggested police will be working against time to trace the source.