Police said four cars were taken, including one involved in a pursuit, in a hectic three-hour period.

Police were called to Livingstone Street at Wingen about 8pm on Monday night after a resident challenged a man he found in his backyard.

The resident chased the man from the property but stopped when the intruder met up with three others and threatened him, police said.

The group fled the scene.

Officers responding to the reports were a short time later told there were four males in a white SUV hatchback acting suspiciously in the area.

At 8.40pm four men attempted to break into a granny flat in Hill Street, where a 56-year-old man who lived in the property challenged them and chased them off.

One of the thieves entered the man's flat and stole car keys, police said.

At 9pm police were alerted after a white Hyundai Tucson was found burning in Eveleigh Court at Scone.

Police said checks revealed the car was stolen in Port Macquarie on Sunday.

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At 9.10pm a break and enter occurred in Nyarra Street in Scone. A couple found a man inside the home, and later discovered jewellery and their car were missing.

Police were alerted within five minutes and officers spotted the couple's car headed south towards Muswellbrook.

They gave chase but terminated the pursuit after two minutes for safety reasons.

The car was found at Camberwell, in Alpha Street, about 10pm "after attempts had been made to set the vehicle on fire".

At the same time police were told a Nissan X-Trail with registration BI01ST was taken from a house on the same street.

Police are urging anyone who sees the car to call police immediately and not to touch the vehicle.

At 10.30pm police were told four males were running through Singleton Heights backyards. Ten minutes later a Holden Caprice was taken from James Cook Drive.

It was later discovered in Bourke Street at Singleton and is undergoing forensic examination.

"Police believe all incidents are linked and are appealing for information from the public to identify those involved," police said.

"No injuries have been reported. Investigations are continuing."

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.

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