Police are searching for a man described as tall, slim and dark-skinned who was roaming around Matua in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Senior Sergeant Carl Purcell says a man was disturbed in a Matua garage at about 1.30am when the occupants of this address confronted him.

A police dog was used to track this man, but the trail was lost in the marsh area between Ngatai and Levers Road.

A short time later, another call was received by police in which a person was disturbed by an elderly occupant trying to get through a bedroom window at another address in Matua.

He ran away when challenged by the occupant. A police dog was again called and tracked the man for a short time before losing the trail again.

Police believe the two incidents are connected and would like to speak with anyone who may know something about them.

Police can be contacted on 07 577 4300 or anonymously on 0800 SPEAKUP.