The smashed office door where offenders broke in to get to the safe. Photo / Rafaella Melo
The smashed office door where offenders broke in to get to the safe. Photo / Rafaella Melo
A Red Cross op shop on Carlyle St in Napier South is unable to reopen after burglars smashed their way in, stole about $1800 and a television, and “trashed” the store.
Store manager Shirley Davies said offenders forced their way through two doors, broke into the office, and lefta trail of “destruction” through the back rooms.
“They came for money, they smashed my safe, ripped the door and my filing cabinet apart,” she told Hawke’s Bay Today.
“It was three days of takings in our float, so they took about $1800.”
Davies said she was struggling to understand why a charity shop would be targeted.
“Why would someone pick on a charity? I know people get desperate, but what they did here wasn’t desperation, it was just senseless vandalism,” she said.
“We can’t see that they’ve taken anything else, they just wrecked the place.”
She said the burglars also tipped out water bottles, scattered cleaning products, upended the computer and microwave, and dumped contents of drawers across the office floor.
“I didn’t get much sleep last night ... It’s the devastation of how they ruined everything. They didn’t just take the money and go ... they trashed the place for no reason.”
The shop was left in disarray after the burglary.
Assistant manager Rachel Hoare arrived about 8.40am on Sunday to open the store and found the garage door half up.
“I noticed the garage door was dismantled and broken. So, I called Shirley and then she said to ring 111.
“I’m not sure whether they got through the front door or the back door. Both doors are wrecked.”
The front entrance of the Red Cross shop in Napier South, where offenders tried to force their way in. Photo / Rafaella Melo
Police were notified about 8.50am on Sunday and believe the break-in was between 5pm on Saturday and 8.30am on Sunday.
Police were on site for several hours taking fingerprints and examining the damage, Hoare said.
The store was closed on Sunday and remains shut, with no reopening date yet.
The till drawer was destroyed, and the shop cannot trade until doors, locks and security features are repaired, Davies says.
Store manager Shirley Davies outside the Red Cross shop, which has been closed since Sunday. Photo / Rafaella Melo
The burglary has heightened ongoing safety concerns.
Davies said rough sleepers and drug users often camp behind the building, leaving rubbish and needles.
Police are reviewing CCTV from neighbouring businesses and asking the public for help.
“We would like to hear from anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam footage in the Carlyle St area, as well as anyone who has information that can assist in our inquiries,” a police spokesperson said.
Anyone with information can contact police via 105, or online at 105.police.govt.nz using ‘Update Report’. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
