Shadbolt's bad luck with mayoral car continues

Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt. Picture / Getty Images

Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt's run of bad luck with mayoral cars continues, with the latest vehicle being broken into and his stolen cellphone used to co-ordinate a robbery.

Chances bar at the Kelvin Hotel was robbed on Sunday, September 17 by a man who threatened to use a weapon if the female bartender did not hand over cash.

Mr Shadbolt told the Southland Times his mayoral car had been broken into the evening before the robbery while he was hosting the "Invercargill -- This is Your Life" sesquicentenary show with entertainer Gary McCormick.

Mr Shadbolt said he reported the break-in to police that night.

He was reluctant to comment on the incident but, according to council minutes, Mr Shadbolt's cellphone was taken from the car.

The mayor told the community services committee about the break-in during its September 18 meeting.

"They took my cellphone and used it to co-ordinate the robbery at the Kelvin Hotel," the minutes say.

"It's a good thing I was out of town at the time of the robbery."

Mr Shadbolt yesterday referred questions about the investigation to Invercargill police.

Senior Sergeant Richard McPhail would only say that the Chances Bar robbery was still under active investigation.

In March, Mr Shadbolt crashed the mayoral car near Winton, Southland, putting himself in hospital for two weeks with broken vertebrae, a bruised lung, and damaged kidneys. His two passengers were unhurt.

He was fined $600 after pleading guilty to a charge of careless driving.

He told the court he lost control of the car when he bent down to retrieve his sunglasses case from under his brake pedal.

In sentencing, the JPs opted not to disqualify Mr Shadbolt from driving because of his previous good record.

- NZPA