Lax security blamed for theft of Lions tickets

Failure to follow security rules was behind more than 500 tickets for the Lions match against Manawatu being stolen, the New Zealand Rugby Union says.

The tickets were stolen over the weekend from the Ticket Direct office near Arena Manawatu in Palmerston North.

Police Sergeant Brett Amas said the tickets, mostly for the grandstand, were sitting in a courier bag at the ticketing agency.

He said anyone offered the tickets should not take them as not only are they stolen property, they are worthless as they have been cancelled.

NZRU deputy chief executive Steve Tew said they should have been in a safe. He said he will be finding out why the security rules weren't followed and making sure they are in future.

Mr Tew said he did not think the tickets were targeted in the burglary, because no-one knew they were there and they were not the only items stolen.



Ticket Direct could not be contacted about the theft.

The stolen tickets are the only tickets to the June 28 match currently in circulation.

Season pass-holders and people who have bought them in the ballot have not yet received their tickets.

New tickets will be printed with different barcodes.

- NZPA