Four young people are facing charges in the Invercargill Youth Court and two more have been referred to Youth Services after police arrested a group of six in Mataura following a day-long run of vehicle crime across Invercargill.

Police said the six, aged between 12 and 16, were linked to a string of incidents in which vehicles around the city were interfered with over a 24-hour period. The group targeted several vehicles and attempted to get away from officers, prompting what police described as a coordinated response involving a number of workgroups from across the Southern district.

When the group was located and arrested in Mataura, about 50 kilometres northeast of Invercargill, officers found drugs along with tools of the kind commonly used to break into and steal cars, police said in a statement released on Thursday afternoon.

Acting Sergeant Tim Yaxley, a police dog handler, said there was a view in the community that young offenders escaped consequences, and that Thursday's arrests showed otherwise.

"Vehicle crime has real victims," he said, adding that the driving which often followed such offending put everyone on the road in danger, including the young people themselves.

Yaxley said police would continue to hold offenders to account and would keep working alongside partner agencies and the Youth Court on longer-term outcomes aimed at keeping the community safe.

Police did not say how many vehicles were targeted, which suburbs were involved, or what kind of drugs were recovered. The four appearing in the Youth Court face vehicle-related charges; the specific charges and hearing dates were not released. Because of their ages, none of the six can be named.

The arrests come during a run of vehicle offending in the south. Police said earlier this week that almost 30 Subarus had been stolen across Otago since August, and have been urging owners in Southland and Otago to lock vehicles and remove valuables.

Under New Zealand law, children aged 12 and 13 can only be prosecuted in the Youth Court for the most serious offences, while 14- to 17-year-olds can be charged with a wider range of offending. Youth Services, the police arm that works with young people and their families outside the court system, handles cases where a formal prosecution is not pursued.

Police are asking anyone who sees suspicious behaviour around parked vehicles, or who witnesses vehicle crime in progress, to call 111 straight away so officers have the best chance of catching those responsible. Information can also be given anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.