Theatre groups reeling after burglars get away with precious items worth thousands

Evolution Theatre’s artistic director Dinna Myers (right) and AmberAitken head at the theatre in Disraeli St yesterday afternoon. They and fellow thespians at Unity Theatre are counting the cost of burglaries last month. Picture by Paul Rickard

Police are continuing to investigate consecutive burglaries of local theatre spaces that have left affected owners and production crew heartbroken.

Police have no updates at this stage but a spokesperson said they were “continuing to follow lines of inquiry”.

Items were stolen from Unity Theatre’s building on Ormond Road, and Evolution Theatre in Disraeli St, in break-ins in April.

The people who committed such a deed should feel ashamed of stealing from non-profit organisations, said Evolution Theatre managing artistic director Dinna Myers.

“It’s really heartbreaking,” she said. “We all donate our own money and volunteer our time to provide entertainment to the public. But when some people come and steal from us, it’s horrific. Shame on them.”

Ms Myers said based on the scale of the burglary, she believed it was the work of an organised group.

“They took our speakers, all of our electronics from the (sound) booth, lights and other sound equipment.

“Even our wardrobes with our fake props were broken into and items stolen. All of our costume jewellery, such as fake necklaces, are gone. They might be worth little to them but they mean a lot to us. ”

As well as a safe box with $200 in it, the thieves also took a tonne of beverages and every single tool from the “scene shed”.

That is where the burglars appear to have entered, by breaking the window. They left by breaking the lock of the shed door.

The burglary was discovered when a person arrived at the theatre for an audition for an upcoming play, and saw the kitchen was in a mess. The person contacted Ms Myers immediately.

Based on an insurance assessment conducted by the theatre, about $25,000 worth of items and equipment were stolen.

Unity Theatre was burgled a week before.

Unity Theatre treasurer Sarah Olsen said $8000 worth of light and sound equipment, props and kitchen accessories were stolen.

A Unity staff member reported the break-in and Ms Olsen informed the police. She spent hours putting together documents and items that were missing and finding receipts for the insurance claim.

“Unity has been going for 60 years, and those involved couldn’t take all of our fake pieces of jewellery and costumes. But whatever they could steal was immensely valuable to us, especially a precious old-fashioned mantelpiece, which was donated to us some time back.

“The saddest thing is we as a community organisation work so hard to accumulate such goods. We work towards creating a fun atmosphere . . . especially after so much heartache after the recent storm . . .  and then this happens. It’s really disappointing.”

The theatre group’s entire stock of stage makeup, worth about  $1500, was stolen from an old metal chest which has been a part of Unity productions for many years.

Mrs Olsen said this morning the burglars had returned about a week later, when the play The Wolves was in full swing, and tried to get in again. They failed, but their efforts left wood splintered around the door.

Police investigations of both burglaries revealed those involved were “forensically aware” as they left no traces of fingerprints.

Ms Myers said today the theatre had heard back from their insurance company the difficult news that their claim would not cover all items stolen.

“A lot of it has been donated and we didn’t have receipts or proof of purchase or value for it.”

Verve Cafe has stepped up and will be running a drive for costume jewellery to replace pieces taken in the burglary. People are invited to dig out their old bling and drop it into the cafe. As well, a Givealittle page is being set up to help pay for replacement tools and items of sound equipment.