Patients awoken in 'disturbing' burglary

Cancer Society Otago and Southland CEO Mike Kernaghan outside their building on Thursday after they suffered an overnight break-in. Photo / Gregor Richardson

A bungling burglar woke cancer sufferers by smashing a glass door at the Cancer Society's Daffodil House during a ''disturbing'' raid.

But the would-be thief, who was only able to find loose change, left behind a bloody calling card in the building's reception area after being cut while breaking in.

Otago-Southland Cancer Society chief executive Mike Kernaghan said, while the break-in was frustrating, his concern lay with the patients who were asleep upstairs at the time of the raid early yesterday.

''The most disturbing part about all of this is we have accommodation [for cancer patients],'' he said.

''Whilst there was no threat to any of them, you always get a bit worried when people break into a place where people are undergoing treatment [and are staying].''

The 11 rooms at Daffodil House were all occupied at the time of the burglary and the raid woke several patients.

''It could have been potentially catastrophic if someone went down to see what was going on,'' he said.

Fortunately, none of the patients went downstairs to investigate. Campus Watch staff discovered the broken door, he said.

''They are going through a tough time as it is without having to deal with someone breaking into the building,'' Mr Kernaghan said.

''It's really disappointing.''

The raid was ''pretty pointless'' as cash and drugs were not held on the premises.

The burglar made off with some loose change - ''a couple of bucks'' - which was in a drawer in the reception area, but nothing else was taken.

The intruder could not access any other part of the building because of its security, Mr Kernaghan said.

''There was a bit of blood left behind. They cut themselves during the process,'' he said.

The patients, while a little shaken, were fine but ''a little annoyed''.

Police confirmed they were investigating the matter and had taken evidence from the building yesterday.