Street signs have been going missing across Whakatane and the Eastern Bay - sparking safety concerns

Some signposts have been cut through to make it easier to remove the sign, while in other locations the sign has been taken and the pole left behind.

The thefts have cost Whakatane District Council 25-thousand-dollars in replacement and repairs over the past two years.

Residents say it means emergency services sometimes can't find the correct address in rural areas - when GPS and Google Maps fail.

The council says the thefts create unnecessary work for the community - with 60 signs replaced last year alone.