A pensioner was left baffled after trying to report a burglary at a police station – and instead being asked if he had turned up for the poker night.

Graham Hall found thieves had ransacked his house at Hazel Crescent, in Kidlington.

They had stolen items from a games room. So the father-of-three decided to walk to the nearby Thames Valley Police headquarters to report the break in.

However, the 69-year-old received a surprise response – he was then told he could not report the crime because it was not an official police station.

Mr Hall said: “When I got there a security guard popped up from behind the desk and said ‘good evening, are you here for the poker?’ “I said: ‘I’ve got it wrong. I thought this was a police station, not a casino’. “I told him I came to report a crime, but he said I couldn’t do that here. I said: ‘I’m sorry I wasted your time’ and left. You can’t even report a crime at the police headquarters!”

Mr Hall then discovered he could not report the burglary at Kidlington Police Station, which is next door, because it closes at 5pm during the week.

The security guard sent Mr Hall away with an information card with a general police inquiries telephone number.

The retired financial adviser reported the burglary about an hour later by phone.

Burglars broke into the Hazel Crescent home, which is currently being refurbished, some time on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.

They stole snooker balls, cues, rests and an electric fan. The station hosts monthly poker games, limited to 20 staff, with a £2.50 top stake and small cash prizes, which is intended to raise funds for the social club.

Police spokesman Rebecca Webber said the poker tournament held at the police station took place in the force’s sport and social club.

Card games and gambling were allowed and were in line with the premises licence, a spokesman for Cherwell District Council confirmed.

Miss Webber added: “The security guard who spoke to Mr Hall assumed he was a member of staff here for the poker game.

“When it became evident he was not, he explained that we could not take details of the burglary and directed him to the non-emergency number.”

The police headquarters lacks a front counter service and cannot take crime reports, or lost property.

However, crimes can be reported at front desk police stations, which are listed at thamesvalley.police.uk or can be found by ringing 08458 505505.

Last night police had yet to contact Mr Hall by telephone or letter or visit his home to investigate the break-in, he said.

mwilkinson@oxfordmail.co.uk