After what has already been a tough year for small business owners, the owner of a Mount Maunganui butchery has been left "devastated" by multiple burglaries.
Doug Jarvis Butcher was broken into in the early hours of Saturday morning and owner Doug Jarvis said it was the second time his store had been targeted in the last three months.
Jarvis said the thieves smashed the front window of the store, on Owens Pl, about 1.47am before climbing through and helping themselves to 12 rolls of eye fillet steak.
They also attempted to rip out the shop till, which was empty, causing significant damage in the process.
"The last break-in was a few months ago but they broke in round the back, into an outdoor chiller," Jarvis said.