�Clothes and equipment worth nearly �1,000 belonging to a child ice hockey team were stolen from the manager’s car –while it was parked outside her front door.

Thirteen hockey shirts specially ordered from Germany were swiped from manager Karen Greene’s Peugeot 206 on Sunday, as it sat outside her home in Finsbury Park Road, Finsbury Park.

Her son Elliot’s skates, pads and helmet were also taken.

Mrs Greene had loaded the car ahead of a vital tie that evening and popped back inside for a quick cup of tea before setting off.

But when she returned just 20 minutes later, at about 5pm, there was a hole drilled next to the lock on the driver’s door – and the gear was gone.

She said: “The police think something’s been jammed in the hole to open the locking mechanism.

“I was absolutely heartbroken. Two large bags containing shirts and socks, worth about �500 or �600, and Elliot’s equipment, worth about �350, had been taken.

“Four trophies were also taken and it was just devastating.”

The club has been left with a hefty bill to replace the kit, while Mrs Greene has already had to shell out �80 to buy new skates for Elliot, who goes to Highbury Grove School in Highbury Grove, Highbury.

She is holding out hope that the kits might turn up dumped or someone might come forward with clues to their whereabouts.

She said: “The shirts and socks are of no use to anyone whatsoever. They can’t sell them.

“I’m hoping they might turn up somewhere or someone with information might phone the paper.

“We’re desperate to get them back. They will cost a lot of money to replace and I will have to pay because it was in my car.”

Comeback

The team, Lee Valley Lions under-12s, were left to face bitter rivals Invicta, from Kent, in oversized kit borrowed from older players – but it was not all bad news as they reversed a 5-0 deficit to win 9-6.

Mrs Greene added: “This was a huge game. They beat us in November and three of our players got hurt.

“Perhaps the theft spurred us on to this spectacular and amazing comeback.”

Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information should contact them by e-mail at hackneypolice@met.police.uk, quoting crime reference number 4601950/12, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.