Police are investigating whether a theft from a Dunedin midwife's car is connected to a break-in on the same night at a nearby charity.
Sergeant Ian Paulin said items including a laptop were stolen from the Malcam Charitable Trust, in Maori Rd, about 300m from where midwife Nicki Cowan's car was broken into when she was on an emergency call-out early on Wednesday.
The trust works with at-risk youth.
Two cars in the trust's car park were also damaged when broken into, but nothing was taken, Sgt Paulin said.
Given the proximity of the two incidents and the fact they happened on the same night, police were investigating whether they were connected.
The building was clearly sign-posted as belonging to a charity, he said.
Trust chief executive Andy Kilsby said the theft of a staff member's bike, a laptop, a digital camera and other ''assorted minor items'' was disappointing.
''It's most unfortunate, given we are a charitable organisation trying to work hard with the community,'' Mr Kilsby said.
He called on the person responsible to ''come and talk to us''.
''Come through the front door and have a yarn. We will have a talk to you about what is going on in your life, as opposed to visiting us after hours.''
A door in the downstairs part of the trust's building was also damaged.
The theft from Ms Cowan's car happened after she answered a 3am emergency callout to Otago Daily Times reporter Hamish McNeilly's house where his partner gave birth on the bathroom floor.
A passenger side car window was smashed with a rock and $3000 worth of equipment stolen.
Mr McNeilly had a blunt message to the thief, saying: ''I don't know you, but I know your type.''
On the same night, a member of the public reported seeing a man wearing a dark hoodie interfering with a car in nearby Clark St, about 1.20am.
Another car was reported broken into in the area, but it was not known if anything was taken.
