9:09am Tuesday 20th July 2010
Exclusive By Simon Carr
THIEVES targeted two village green cricket matches stealing cars, mobile phones and wallets after rifling through the changing rooms while the players were on the field.
Police are linking the incidents which led to one of the matches being abandoned.
Bursledon Cricket Club was taking on Bedhampton 2nds in a Hampshire Cricket League Regional Division 2 South-East match at Doncaster Farm in Chestnut Avenue when the crooks struck.
They drove off in a black Vauxhall Astra containing a digital camera, sat-nav, tools and an Austin Powers fancy dress costume after taking the keys from the dressing room.
They then moved on to Boyes Lane in Colden Common where the home side’s second team was playing at home to Sarisbury Athletic 5ths in Regional Division 4 Central.
Two sets of car keys were taken from the changing room.
The thieves took a black wallet and two mobile phones from the glovebox of a white Hyundai Civic before stealing a dark grey Audi A5.
The crimes caused the Bursledon match to be called off while the other suffered a long delay.
Both crimes were spotted in the break between innings at around 5pm on Saturday.
Police say both changing rooms were left unlocked.
Bursledon Cricket Club secretary David Williamson said: “It was such a pain. People couldn’t cancel their cards because they didn’t have their phones and couldn’t get their cars home because they didn’t have the keys.
“We had to call off the game because the police wanted to talk to everybody. As far as I know it is not being rescheduled.”
Sarisbury Athletic secretary Penny Hammond said: “I’m shocked and would urge cricket clubs to look at their security.
It’s sad when you can’t enjoy a game without this happening.”
Det Sgt Darren Ford said: “We are currently treating these incidents as connected and would like to hear from anyone with information about the thefts or the whereabouts of the stolen property.
“I would also like to warn drivers not to leave property in their vehicles while they are unattended. It’s also important to think about the security of your personal property when taking part in sport activities.
You could consider leaving valuables at home.”
■ Anyone with information should contact Det Sgt Ford at Lyndhurst CID on 101.
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