Far North ITM ram-raided day after owners served free three-course meal for 100 people at Christmas

Danielle Moa and her son Jesse, from Jesse’s on the Waterfront in Mangōnui hosted two free Christmas lunches for needy Northlanders this year, but just a day later their other business was ram-raided.

A Far North family who cooked 100 free three-course Christmas meals for struggling Northlanders, had $30,000 worth of tools stolen at a different property the next day.

Danielle Moa received a call at 11pm on Boxing Day telling her the alarm to the family’s second business, ITM Far North, had been activated.

The Moas had just spent Christmas Day at their Mangōnui restaurant, Jesse’s on the Waterfront, cooking free meals for 100 people who would otherwise go hungry.

However, that generosity was followed by a bad experience elsewhere.

Two vehicles - a silver sedan and dark coloured station wagon - rammed the security gate at their ITM business and shattered the glass front door.

Three offenders then entered the store and helped themselves to around $30,000 worth of power tools.

“Watching the whole thing on the camera was a bit of a joke, to be honest,” Moa said.

She, her husband, and kids spent the next few hours having to build a temporary wall because of the damage to the door.

A temporary wall had to be put up after the glass door was smashed by a vehicle.

Moa said the theft was “heartbreaking” at the best of times but was made worse as it overshadowed their good deed of the day before.

The family posted news of the ordeal on Facebook, which prompted an outcry of support and outrage.

“It hurts the whole community,” Moa said.

“The support, the texts, the emails I’ve been getting is phenomenal.”

Moa said the ITM staff were gutted.

CCTV captured the alleged thieves inside the store.

Matters were made worse by the lingering impacts break-ins have on businesses in terms of their insurance.

“It increases risk factors, so your premiums go up, and excess goes up,” Moa said.

“It just has a massive effect on the business.”

Moa was frustrated that small businesses were being targeted in areas where more of them were needed.

People looking to start a business could be driven away by such events, she said.

Moa said despite the break-in they were operating as usual as the community was reliant on the materials they sold.

Moa said the incident had been reported online to police.

She and her family hoped those responsible would be caught.

Brodie Stone is an education and general news reporter at the Advocate. Brodie has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.