Sorry thief

A thief broke into a family home near Queenstown twice in the same day - once to steal and the second time to say sorry.

The unknown offender struck first while homeowner Graeme Glass was at work on Tuesday, smashing a window at his Arthurs Pt home to gain entry and stealing a $1200 laptop, a camera and a wallet containing his American Express credit card.

The second intrusion came later the same day, when the burglar - apparently racked by guilt - decided to return the goods, as well as a basketball and two pairs of gloves bought using Mr Glass' credit card in nearby Queenstown.

Mr Glass and wife Shirley realised their house had been robbed only when they returned home from work on Tuesday night to find the loot piled on the kitchen table.

To top it off, there was a full-page note from the offender saying sorry.

The apology, written on a page of Mr Glass' diary, expressed sorrow for "violating the safety and security of your home".

The offender said he did not want to go to jail but understood if Mr Glass wanted to seek "proper justice", in which case he should "ask around your neighbourhood. Someone will have seen me, and from there I'm certain you will find me".

In the meantime, the offender promised to leave cash in Mr Glass' letterbox to pay for the smashed window "when I have enough money".
Constable Julian Cahill of the Queenstown police said the burglar's change of heart would be taken into account by police.

"We consider everything but it would help a bit more if he came into us," Mr Cahill said.

He said he has never heard of a burglar breaking into a house, stealing property and then returning it in the same day.