Around 60 car batteries have been stolen from a commercial premise in the Eastern Bay.

Whakatane Police are warning scrap metal dealers throughout the Bay to be alert, and in particular to watch out for large quantities of batteries coming in.

The batteries have been taken from where they were locked away behind a Commerce St business.

In another incident, a group of adolescents is suspected of taking a small amount of cash from a Salonika St address.

Three boys and one girl, thought to be 11 or 12 years old, have been seen hanging around outside the property, prior to the money being taken.

Senior Sergeant Bruce Jenkins says police are now following up with local schools to try and identify them.