A Whangarei burglary victim believes youths who he suspects invaded his home have gone a step too far, killing a nest of baby birds then defecating on his lawn.
Thieves used a chair to climb up a balcony and then through an unlocked window on the top floor of Brad Wynyard's Tikipunga home between 5.20pm and 6pm on Tuesday.
Mr Wynyard said normally his family were very security conscious and all windows were shut when no one was home but this clearly illustrated how devastating opportunistic thefts were. He warns others to lock up coming into the summer holiday season.
Jewellery, including sentimental antique heirloom items, milk, yoghurt and icecream out of the fridge and expensive car models were taken. Most of the items were found stashed in nearby bush, except for the jewellery.
"They've left their calling card on the lawn and it's disgusting," he said.