Thousands of dollars worth of stock and equipment stolen from restaurant

Twice in one night . . . Zambrero Mexican restaurant owners Blake and Nicole Webb fear they may have to start down-sizing and making redundancies in the wake of a double burglary strike on their Bright Street premises on Sunday night. Two point of sale units containing money and stock were stolen by a thief who broke in twice. Losses were estimated at around $13,000. Police finger-printed the business and are investigating. Picture by Liam Clayton

A Gisborne restaurant owner has been left reeling after a thief broke in and stole thousands of dollars of stock and equipment.

Gisborne Zambrero owner Blake Webb said the thief broke in twice on Sunday night and took two brand-new point of sale units, both containing money. CCTV cameras captured the burglary.

A great deal of stock, including energy drinks was also taken.

“He took anything he could get his hands on, and then he came back a second time to finish the job.”

Mr Webb estimated losses at about $13,000 but that was further compounded by at least three days of lost trading while police investigated and new POS units arrived.

“This is not what anyone wants, not after the year we’ve already had with cyclones and floods. We have experienced a significant loss of business already.

“My worst fear is this might be the incident that turns the tide and I might have to start downsizing and making redundancies.”

The stolen items were insured but he did not expect any money until the  middle of  next year as he had been waiting six months for  an insurance claim made during Cyclone Gabrielle that had still not been paid out.

He had forgone paying other bills to fund the two new POS machines to cover that insurance delay.

Tairāwhiti Detective Sergeant Brent Griffiths said an investigation was ongoing following a burglary at the restaurant on Bright Street between the hours of 10pm and midnight on Sunday, October 15.

“A scene examination has been conducted and police are following positive lines of inquiry.

“This type of offending is completely unacceptable. It causes significant fiscal and personal loss to victims’ livelihoods and will not be tolerated.

“While police work hard in the community to prevent and respond to this type of offending, we cannot do this alone. We ask for extra vigilance within the community and encourage the public to report anything suspicious.

“Please contact police on 111 if the event is in progress, or 105 if it has already occurred.

“If you have any information that may assist in this specific investigation please contact Police on 105 and quote file number: 231016/9026.”