A complete list of all vehicles reported stolen to police in the last six months, and are still missing, is available online.

The new publicly accessible online database is a tool created by police to help them locate stolen vehicles.

Police Deputy Commissioner Mike Bush says the new initiative is free, up-to-date and provides a simple, on-the-spot way of checking on a vehicle.

Users are able to download a spreadsheet of the missing stolen vehicles or can search the database by registration number, VIN, engine or chassis number.

A download of the database shows 138 vehicles are missing after being reported stolen in the Bay of Plenty during the last six months.

Nationally there are 3677 vehicles missing after being reported stolen in the last six months.

Mike says many people will find the database useful.

'It will be a resource for security guards, insurance companies, moteliers, scrap metal dealers and community policing patrols.

'It also has obvious benefits for people buying second-hand vehicles, garages that service vehicles and service stations where petrol thefts can regularly be associated with stolen vehicles.

'Potentially, it gives police many more pairs of eyes out there.

'People can do their own checking and then report it to police.

'It's an extra deterrent for offenders because now anyone with a smart phone can run the vehicle through the database on-the-spot.

'The risk of being caught with a stolen vehicle has just risen considerably.”

The database is updated three times a day and can be viewed at: www.police.govt.nz/stolen/vehicles