However, police have also warned that a public nonchalance towards purchasing items 'off the back of the truck' fuelled ongoing theft in the area.

Crime manager Peter Fox said highway patrol units and officers from Raymond Terrace, Tanilba Bay and Lemon Tree Passage had increased patrols of the area following the recent increase in crime.

"It [theft] has been slightly up in the last month to six weeks, but not by much," he said.

"We have an intelligence section within our crime management unit that plots crime trends so we can deploy a lot more resources to that area."

Mr Fox added that while it may seem like a good idea to buy stolen items at a reduced cost, it meant that thieves would continue to break into homes to meet demand.

"It may seem like a good idea to buy a cheap GPS that's fallen off the back of the truck, but be warned that you could actually be the next victim.

"While there is a demand for stolen items, people will continue to supply them."

Police recently arrested a man, 18 and a youth aged 17, in relation to stealing and having goods in custody at Medowie. The males, both from Medowie were stopped by highway patrol officers in their vehicle on Federation Drive at 1.25am on June 9.

Upon searching the vehicle police allegedly located two GPS units, two screw drivers, an empty wallet, a hands-free phone unit, knife, two sets of keys, garage door remotes, a mobile phone, blood pressure kit, breathing mask, set of binoculars and an iPod.

The 18 year old was charged with three counts of stealing, break and enter and possessing implements used for breaking and entering to appear in Raymond Terrace Local Court on June 28.

The 17 year old is to be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.