KEY POINTS:
It was the pre-Christmas surprise a family didn't need - a dead-of-night burglary in which thieves stole stereo and DVD equipment, antiques and kitchen items.
But hours later came another surprise, when most of the stolen items were returned.
The family found their belongings bundled up in a sheet and left at the front of their property, at Bannockburn, near Cromwell in Central Otago.
And yesterday, the thieves made another visit, bringing back two remote controls stolen from the house.
Senior Constable John Chambers of Cromwell said the second return appeared to have been done in a rush, as the remotes were dropped by a letterbox, and tyre-marks indicated a car had been driven away at speed.
The homeowner's 16-year-old son was at home alone during the late-night burglary and slept through it.
He had left the front door unlocked and lights in the living room and kitchen on for his father, who was due to return to the home early on Sunday morning.
When the homeowner returned about 3am, the lights had been switched off and goods worth about $20,000 had been stolen.
A wooden cutlery box and a large recycled rimu storage box are still missing, although some of the box contents were returned.
Mr Chambers said most thieves who had a change of heart abandoned stolen property in a place where they knew it was likely to be found and reported to police. The homeowner said some property was returned in a "Santa-sack".
- OTAGO DAILY TIMES
