Is this the heel who took shoes?

WANTED: Wairarapa Police are seeking public assistance to identify the man in this image. Police would like to speak to him regarding the theft of the Black Sticks' shoes at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort Solway Park in Masterton on Saturday. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

The Black Sticks lost more than Sunday's match against their American opponents while they were in Wairarapa.

Five pairs of the players' shoes were stolen from outside their hotel rooms at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort Solway Park in Masterton.

The shoes were taken at about 10pm on Saturday.

The crime was captured on the hotel's CCTV cameras and police are currently seeking a tall, bearded, male Caucasian in his early 30s in connection with the incident.

Black Sticks communications manager Julia Woodley said often players leave their shoes outside their hotel rooms to avoid having a smelly room.

"The extremely generous hospitality that both the USA and Black Sticks teams received from the Wairarapa hockey community was incredible.

"It was a fantastic weekend and we do not want the incident of one individual to overshadow what was a great event for the region."