Brazen thieves pay return visit to squash club

The squash club members are "gutted" about the thefts. Photo / Otago Daily Times

A pair of brazen thieves stole car keys from a squash club changing room, used them to steal a car and then returned the next night to steal "cash and booze", police say.

Pirates Squash Club member Kay Baldock said members were "gutted" when they found out about the thefts.

"Someone suggested that if we found them, we put them on court and all get our racquets ..."

The pair allegedly walked through the changing rooms at the club in John Wilson Ocean Dr on Tuesday while competition games were being played and stole a cell phone and a set of car keys. The intruders then drove off in a Toyota Corolla using the stolen keys.

Police believe the pair returned the next night and stole up to $500 and competition prizes, including several bottles of wine, another cell phone, two tool kits and vouchers. Some of the items were recovered dumped in the back of a ute in Marlow St, St Kilda, yesterday.

The locks had since been changed, Ms Baldock said.

Squash club coach and life member Paul Cadogan was "suitably upset".

He said the only damage was a security grille over the bar, which had been removed. That made him think the thieves used a squash club key from the stolen keyring to gain entry.

Senior Constable Paul Anderson, of Dunedin police, said two people, a male and a female, had been seen driving the car on Tuesday. It was later found at the Otago Bridge Club on Otaki St, South Dunedin.

Inquiries were continuing.