"The worker also wasn't troubled that the money he spent was stolen and refused to return the funds, and the family had to take money from their food budget to reimburse their boarder," Mr Miller said.
"Our message as police is that the cafe needs to take some social responsibility and consider the impact of allowing school-aged children into their premises during school hours unchallenged."
Not doing so "invited continuing truancy" among youths, he said, and potentially created further victims of crime.
"Ten days ago we spoke about the need for capable guardians and asked people to report suspicious activity involving youths after a number of burglaries in Matamata. Today we ask the same thing of people in Hamilton, if you see something not right then do something, and that's ring 111."