Whodunnit? Sneak thief strikes in the Wimbledon locker room

Players and coaches are watching each other with heightened suspicion after two incidents in the last two days, one of them involving the coach of the man who knocked out Tim Henman.

On guard: just who is stealing from the tennis players at Wimbledon?

Former French Open champion Albert Costa, who works with Henman's conqueror Feliciano Lopez, had a bag stolen containing 1,700 euros and $1,000 in cash — a total of around £1,650. That followed the disappearance of a wallet belonging to French player Michael Llodra, who was away from his locker for only 30 seconds when the theft took place.

The issue is kicking up a storm in the locker room, especially as the players and coaches feel one of their own must be responsible.

There has been a spate of incidents this year, despite strict checks on admission to locker rooms around the tour.

The players want the All England Club to step up security in time for next year, while a meeting of the Association of Tennis Professionals players' council is likely to be held before the next Grand Slam, the U.S. Open, to discuss the matter.

In the meantime, a Wimbledon spokesman said: "We are aware of the incident and we have told our staff in the locker room to be extra vigilant, but it is difficult with so many people in the area. It is up to the player concerned to inform the police."

By some estimates the number of thefts in the men's locker room this year is around 20. The incidents go as far back as January at the Australian Open but these are the first at Wimbledon.

Jamie Murray has been among the victims, having had his wallet and mobile phone stolen during the recent Artois Championships at Queen's Club, where his doubles partner Eric Butorac and French star Sebastien Grosjean were also robbed. Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman reported personal effects stolen at both the Australian and French Opens.

At last week's Wimbledon qualifying event at Roehampton, Dane Kenneth Carlsen had his Rolex stolen and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut his iPod.

The biggest single theft is believed to be the loss of 5,000 euros (£3,400) suffered by Czech player Radek Stepanek, the fiance of Martina Hingis, at the Monte Carlo Open in April.

Police have reviewed security arrangements at Wimbledon after the car bomb incident outside a nightclub in London's West End.

Superintendent Peter Dobson said: "While I have made some adjustments, the security plan remains commensurate to the threat.

"I would like to take this opportunity to state that there is no intelligence that increases the threat to the Championships."