BRIGHT police are continuing to investigate a costly theft at Mount Buffalo National Park.

Park rangers were surprised to discover the skip bin used on site had been relieved of its four wheels after it had recently been emptied.

The skip was taken down to the park entrance station by one of the rangers on the evening of Monday, January 27 and emptied by JJ Richards.

At some point overnight, opportunistic thieves made off with the skip's wheels before rangers arrived to bring it back up to the Mt Buffalo Chalet on Tuesday morning.

"I noticed the theft when I arrived at work the next day," ranger team leader at Mt Buffalo National Park, Tomas Sanchez said.

"It’s the first incident of theft we have had within the park in a long time.

"It's frustrating for both staff and for the community who look after the national park.

"The biggest frustration for me and my colleagues up here, is the inconvenience for the community and having to shift our focus from looking after the environment, to tidy up these sorts of messes.

"It will cost the park around $1000 to get the wheels replaced, which are tax-payer dollars which have now gone towards something it didn't need to go to."

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Bright Police Station on (03) 5755 1444.