Two young people have been charged following recent incidents of unlawfully interfering and taking of motor vehicles in Southland.

Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Baird said police had apprehended the two youth in Balclutha after a vehicle previously stolen from Flemington Road, Woodlands Invercargill, was located outside a Dairy on Essex Street around 11am on Sunday (14 Jul).

The pair are to appear before the Dunedin Youth Court today (15 Jul) on charges of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and possessing instruments for conversion.

Police were also alerted to several reports of cars being tampered with and two vehicles taken from Invercargill and Gore addresses overnight Saturday/ early morning Sunday, he said.

These included vehicle tampering occurring on Elizabeth and Ardwick Streets Gore, John Street Heidelberg, and Nelson Street Strathern.

Inquiries remain ongoing to determine if the thefts and tampering were linked, Baird said.

Police are also continuing to appeal for information including any video footage or witnesses to vehicle tampering or theft in the Gore, or Invercargill area overnight Sunday 14 July.

information can be reported to Police by calling 105 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Please reference file number 240714/1339.