While praising his staff for their good work in returning a stolen car to the victim undamaged, a senior investigator says there are a number of lessons that, if learned, could help prevent further crime.

Detective Sergeant Nick O'Brien of the Hamilton CIB says the incident began in Nawton yesterday, at around 5.40am.

An officer examining the recovered Skoda at the Hamilton Central Station. Photo: Supplied.

'An elderly woman was doing deliveries in her black Toyota hatchback when she was flagged down by four people who asked her for the time.

'The group, which was made up of teenage males and females, then dragged the woman out of her car and sped off along Avalon Drive.”

Nick says the group then drove to Raglan where a moment's inattention resulted in another victim losing her car.

'The offenders have arrived and noticed a woman leave the keys in her car when she parked her Skoda Octavia on the main street and went into a bank.

'Two of the offenders got out of the Toyota and into the Skoda and both cars headed back to Hamilton via SH23.

'However, they were intercepted by police. After a short pursuit both cars were stopped and the offenders apprehended.”

Nick says one male and one female appeared in the Hamilton Youth Court yesterday in connection with the thefts, while an older female appears in the District Court today.

'A fourth female will appear in the District Court next week,” he confirms.

'While it was pretty good to be able to return the first victim's car to her relatively unscathed, we have some concerns we want to raise with the parents of the four teenagers around their access to alcohol and supervision.

'The other issue is we're asking drivers avoid leaving their cars unlocked with the keys in it.

'Our message around valuables in cars, and the vehicles themselves, is lock them or lose them.”