New Zealand police are reportedly warning avocado growers of a "significant spike" in thefts from orchards as domestic market prices soar.

Four men recently targeted an Athenree orchard in the Bay of Plenty but fled before police arrived, NZ Herald reported. 

A 200g avocado was NZ$5.06 in May, up 37% from NZ$3.69 in April. The price in May this year was up 50% from NZ$3.38 in May 2017 - the highest price for avocado in Statistics New Zealand records.

Avocado grower Bruce Polley said prices rose when supply was limited. He would be chaining up his gates to help ward off would-be thieves.

"There is a small group of people out there who are avocado fanatics, who will pay whatever price for avocado," he was quoted as saying.

New Zealand Avocado chief executive Jen Scoular said the association was aware of recent thefts from "multiple Bay of Plenty avocado orchards" and warned growers to review their security.

"The financial cost to growers can be significant and avocado theft also has serious impacts on grower safety," she was quoted as saying.

Numerous thefts have also been recorded in Chile. Prices in the South American country have been rising sharply over recent months to hit record levels in excess of 5,000 pesos (US$8) per kilo in late May.

Francisco Contardo, general manager of Chile’s avocado producers’ association, reportedly said that while thefts have always existed,  it has gone from people breaking into fields at night to organized armed groups assaulting producers in broad daylight.

During the harvest season, from August to February this year, 10 bands were dismantled and 50 people were charged with theft, he said.

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