Coin warning as burglars nick pokie cash

Tauranga Police are investigating a burglary at Papamoa Tavern during which  thousands of dollars - much of it in coins - were stolen.
 Senior Sergeant Wayne Mills said a security alarm was activated at the Domain Rd property at 4.20am yesterday.
 Police officers found a side door to the tavern had been forced open and cupboards in the bar area ransacked.
The burglary happened after the pub had closed and employees had gone home.
Mr Mills refused to say how much money was missing but did indicate it was "a significant amount in the low thousands".
The money is believed to have been stored for  the tavern's poker-machine floats.
"I suspect a reasonable portion of the money [stolen] will be in coins," Mr Mills said.
He warned store owners and the public to keep an eye out for anyone carrying large sums of coins.
Papamoa Tavern is fitted with security cameras but Mr Mills said that police were unable to access the cameras until today.
The owner of the tavern was yesterday out of town and could not be contacted for comment on the break-in.
Police forensics officers have visited the scene and Mr Mills said police were keen to hear from the public if they saw suspicious activity in and around the tavern  early  yesterday.
Police ask witnesses to call (07) 577 43000 or 0800 SPEAK UP if they have any information on the burglary.