Callous thieves have smashed their way into an east Auckland restaurant before stealing more than $20,000 of alcohol from it.
Staff at the popular Zabr’one restaurant on The Parade in Bucklands Beach posted photos of the damage they found on Tuesday morning to its Facebook page.
The images show large shards of broken glass lying just inside the front doors, the glass panels of which have been smashed.
One wooden panel on the outside of the door is damaged also with a broken piece of timber lying on the ground in front of it.
“Hello everyone, we are saddened to say that we were broken into throughout the night and are currently trying to get organised to open soon,” the restaurant posted on Facebook.
“Please stay vigilant in the local area, and keep an eye out to keep the area safe.
“We value your continued support and your patience while we get cleaned up and get organised with the police.”
Multiple people expressed anger at the culprits on the post, including long-time Bucklands Beach local ‘The Mad Butcher’, Sir Peter Leitch.
“That’s terrible,” he wrote. “So disappointing to read that. You don’t deserve that.
“I hope they catch the buggers.”
Zabr’one manager Rahul Ganjoo told the Times he was “more than angry” at the break-in.
He was planning on going to a police station that morning to report the incident and had to get people in to provide an estimate to repair the damage.
“Last week we had a break-in at our little café and this time, this week, it’s here.
“I don’t know what’s happening. [They stole] all the liquor, broke a window, and took the till.”
He estimates the value of the items stolen from the restaurant to be about $20,000 to $30,000.
And it isn’t the first time the restaurant has been targeted by criminals.
The owners of Zabr’one and the nearby Books N Bricks Cafe previously posted on Facebook about break-ins at the businesses on July 26 last year.
The post included photos of a large glass panel in a door at Zabr’one smashed, leaving shards of broken glass on the ground outside and inside the popular restaurant on The Parade.
Another photo showed glass in the front door at Books N Bricks Cafe in Hattaway Avenue smashed also, with part of the glass pane lying on the footpath.
“We feel so sad to inform you all that there has been a break in at Zabr’one and Books N Bricks,” the Facebook post said.
“We are working hard to get back up and running. Stay safe everyone.”
A police spokesperson said at the time that investigations were under way into the burglaries.
“The burglaries have occurred overnight between July 25 and 26 at a restaurant on The Parade and a cafe on Hattaway Avenue.
“Cash has been stolen from one site, while at the second site alcohol was taken.
“Anyone with information should contact police on 105.”
People with information on the recent burglary at Zabr’one restaurant on The Parade, Bucklands Beach, should phone police on 105 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
