Port Melbourne Colts room theft: Wallets, phones cash allegedly stolen

Port Melbourne Colts players sang their song with gusto after claiming a finals berth on the weekend. But celebrations were cut short when they found valuables missing from their bags. Now police want to speak to a man caught on CCTV about the theft.

Thieves were out spending Port Melbourne Colts football players’ cash and credit cards as they fought for a finals position on Saturday afternoon, police allege.

Wallets, mobiles phones and car keys were allegedly stolen from bags in the Colts’ temporary changerooms at JL Murphy Reserve.

The club believes the alleged theft occurred in a 10-minute period when the rooms were unlocked in the third quarter.

They had been opened after a Colts player briefly left the ground.

The Colts, coached by former Western Bulldogs AFL star Lindsay Gilbee, were playing Mordialloc for fifth spot on the Southern league Division 1 ladder.

They won by 70 points. But Port Melbourne Colts president Steve Duvnjak said their celebrations were short.

“Boom. Our guys were singing the song and then they went to their bags and found some low-life had taken their stuff,’’ Duvnjak said.

“They jumped on their phones to lock their cards and they could actually see in the app their money being spent at stores at the DFO South Wharf.

“A couple of players headed there to have a look and see if they could find them.’’

Police wish to speak to this man in relation to Port Melbourne Colts football players’ cash and credit cards being stolen.

The club reported the matter to South Melbourne police and has since obtained video footage of a man police want to speak to over the alleged theft in a store at DFO.

Duvnjak said he believed two men were responsible.

He said 14 wallets and three mobile phones were stolen, with thousands of dollars allegedly spent afterwards.

Most belonged to players but the team runner, water boys and a trainer were also hit.

MORE LOCAL FOOTY:

COLTS THRASH HIGHETT TO JUMP INTO TOP FIVE

MOORABBIN CRICKET CLUB RETAINS OVERSEAS PLAYERS

Duvnjak said it had been a difficult year for the club without the rooms.

“It’s really impacted our revenue raising opportunities,’’ he said. “We’ve battled on. We’ve got to the last home game, we’ve won and then we’ve gone from up to down because someone has gone in and ripped off players when they’re out playing their hearts out for the club. Ridiculous.’’

Port Phillip Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating.