Staff at the Regent Theatre, in Dunedin, have been left baffled after someone broke into the building and went on a trail of minor but senseless vandalism.
Theatre technical manager Nelson Miles said he arrived at work yesterday morning to find one of the building's back doors forced open.
In the below-stage area, an emergency light had been ripped from the ceiling, a soft toy shredded, a hole bashed in a wall and a fire extinguisher taken.
Mr Miles said the break-in was made all the more confusing because a safety pin had been removed from the fire extinguisher, but it had not been discharged.
"Those things make a hell of a mess. If they were on a vandalism bent, they could have done a lot worse.
"I want them caught so I can ask them why they did it.
"It makes absolutely no sense to me."
Mr Miles said the damage was minor but annoying nonetheless.
Police are investigating and reviewing security camera footage in the hope of identifying the culprit.
Mr Miles said improvements would be made to the security of the building.
