Rotorua Fresh owner Digraj Baghela with the damage done to his store in the early hours on April 23. Photo / David Beck
Rotorua Fresh owner Digraj Baghela with the damage done to his store in the early hours on April 23. Photo / David Beck
A Rotorua shop owner says it is "depressing and painful" to have his store broken into twice in the last eight days.
Another shop owner says she can't sleep at night after worrying her shop may be broken into again.
Shattered glass was found at the front of both RotoruaFresh and Shreeji Food And Spice on Eruera St after reports the shops had been broken into early this morning.
On April 23 two people allegedly smashed the glass in the front door of Rotorua Fresh and took money from the till about 3.30am.
Owner Digraj Baghela received a phone call early this morning from the police who told him the glass of his front door had been smashed yet again.
Damage done to the Rotorua Fresh store early this morning. Photos / Supplied
Baghela said it appeared nothing had been stolen, however, he said shop items were all over the floor and behind the till, which made him think they were looking for something else, such as cigarettes.
"It's very depressing and painful. They may come again, as they don't seem to be scared of getting caught.
"Again I had to call insurance and couldn't open the shop until everything was fixed, and once again our deliveries were delayed.
Damage done to the Rotorua Fresh store early this morning. Photos / Supplied
"We can have insurance and everything but they just keep breaking in."
He said if it happened again who knew what they might try and take next.
"If they see nothing is happening, they might take their time next time. They seem to be having fun and taking it for granted."
He said he was still calling for more night patrols to be done in the CBD area during the night and early morning hours.
Damage done to the Rotorua Fresh store early this morning. Photos / Supplied
Baghela has a wife and a 2-year-old daughter and said safety was also a concern for him.
Meanwhile, Shreeji Food And Spice employee Krishna Vora said glass at the front of her shop had also been smashed about 5.50am today and money from the till had been taken.
She said it was sad for the business and she worried it would happen again.
"We can't sleep at night worrying if they will come again, there's that fear inside of us."
