Rachelle Frazer in front of her shop which was targeted by a robber.
Rachelle Frazer in front of her shop which was targeted by a robber.
A hammer-wielding robber has taken the gloss off a Paraparaumu jewellery shop's fifth birthday celebration.
Kāpiti Jewellery Design and Manufacturers owner Rachelle Frazer was in the shop yesterday at 3.35pm discussing a ring resize with a female customer who was visiting the shop for the first time.
But then Rachellesaw someone running outside coming directly to her shop.
As soon as the person was coming through the front entrance, wielding a large hammer and yelling, Rachelle shouted at them to get out.
The menacing robber went directly to a glass cabinet containing men's sovereign rings, and more, and used the hammer to smash his way in.
"They hadn't seen what had happened in my shop but were looking for someone."
Aftermath of the aggravated robbery.
Police were at her shop, which is in the Kāpiti Lights shopping precinct, within a few minutes.
She estimated the theft and damage was in the vicinity of $40,000.
Some of the stolen items included two sovereign rings, a sapphire ring, a ruby ring, and an aquamarine diamond ring.
It had been a harrowing experience for Rachelle.
"I couldn't sleep that night.
"It's like when someone breaks into your house – it's so invasive.
"It's really sad that someone would do this and especially at this time when people are struggling.
"I had made some of that jewellery including the sapphire which was from a mine in Thailand that has closed.
"And what would he have done if his hammer hadn't broken because he was definitely violent."
Rachelle, who a week earlier had to be admitted to Wellington Hospital after feeling like she was having a heart attack, has been humbled by community support.
