Hawkes Bay police are telling the public to keep an eye on their heavy vehicles after a rise in expensive battery thefts

Over the past three months there have been 32 reports of batteries being stolen in the region.

19 heavy vehicle battery thefts were reported from orchards, commercial businesses and rural properties.

The rest of the thefts were in Hastings.

Detective Sergeant Stephen Leonard says best way to avoid batteries being stolen is to make them identifiable and to park vehicles in secure locations.