Dumb crim's cafe bungle

Warren Flay reckons whoever broke into his cafe has to rate among the dumbest criminals.

Indigo Cafe was one of three Rotorua cafes broken into on Monday night - but it looks as though the culprit left all of them empty handed.

Mr Flay said the cafe was broken into just after 6pm. The person levered the door open and smashed open the till looking for money.

It was a lot of effort for so little gain, he said.

Mr Flay said criminals needed to be aware that no businesses like cafes left money in their till overnight, a lesson this person learnt the hard way.

"He was pretty much one of the world's dumbest criminals. It was a dead loss."

While grateful nothing was taken and nobody was hurt, Mr Flay said the break-in would end up costing them about $500 in replacing the till and door, as well as the time and stress.

He said footage from cameras in the City Focus showed the cafe had been broken into just after 6pm.

It was worrying that crimes were happening in busy streets at that time of night, he said.

Two other Hinemoa St cafes, Robert Harris Espresso and Le Cafe De Paris, were also broken into.

Senior Sergeant Dennis Murphy of the Rotorua police said they were still investigating the break-ins. He said it was too early to say whether all three were linked.

Police are also investigating a burglary at Star Appliances in the Rotorua Central Mall around 1am yesterday.

Mr Murphy said four data projectors were stolen. The offenders broke in by breaking the front window.

Police are not yet sure whether the Star Appliances burglary and the cafe burglaries are connected.

"We are keen to talk to anyone who saw suspicious vehicles in the Central Mall carpark around 1am."

Meanwhile, Taupo police have also had their share of dishonesty following a spate of burglaries and thefts.

During the past week there were six residential burglaries, two commercial burglaries, eight thefts from cars and six cars which were interfered with.

Detective Sergeant Dave Beattie of the Taupo police said the majority of the crimes happened around the Hatepe Ave, Rifle Range Rd and Taupo View Rd areas.

He said people living in those areas had to start reporting any people acting suspiciously and secure their properties and cars.

"We are desperate for members of the public who see people loitering around looking for trouble to report it," he said.

"We really need the phone calls."

Mr Beattie said the thefts and burglaries were likely to be the work of a number of different groups.