Cash, laptop go as burglars hit city restaurants

By KRISTIN MACFARLANE in Rotorua
Two restaurants in Rotorua's central business district were hit by thieves overnight.

Senior Sergeant Greg Sparrow said the first incident happened around 1am when burglars smashed a rear window of the Chung Hak Dong restaurant in Amohia St.

``It appears there was a plastic cup taken with approximately $200 worth of coins,'' Mr Sparrow said.

It appeared the offenders had broken a side window and reached through to unlock it.

The second burglary happened just after 3am at the Rendezvous Restaurant in Hinemoa St.

Mr Sparrow said a large amount of force had gone into the burglary with the offenders cutting the security screws to the side window to gain entry before taking off with a laptop computer.

``They've [the offenders] gone into behind a counter where they removed a laptop from a bench,'' he said.

Mr Sparrow said only the cash and computer were taken in the burglaries but it was too early to confirm whether the incidents were related.

Police were disturbed by the offences.

``Burglaries concern us and we'd really like to catch these people because it's not just a burglary it's an invasion of privacy.''