A small business in East Devonport has had its glass front door smashed twice in four days, with intruders leaving empty-handed – apart from a dropped bag of nuts.
Kellie Jordan, owner of The Health Nut, said she was woken by a call from a security company around 3am on Monday after the second break-in hit the shop.
The first incident happened last Thursday morning, when Jordan arrived to find the front door completely shattered.
Nothing was taken that time and the intruders didn’t make it inside.
The second time, they got in but still left empty-handed, apart from a bag of nuts dropped near the entrance.
“They didn’t get past sort of the first cabinet,” Jordan told Pulse.
“The alarms were pretty loud.”
Jordan said security camera footage from the second break-in showed what appeared to be a group of teenagers.
She said the neighbouring IGA supermarket was also broken into, and police told her the local yacht club may have been targeted as well.
Police said detectives from the Western Criminal Investigation Branch have arrested and charged four youths following several alleged business burglaries in East Devonport overnight.
Police allege the youths, aged 17, 16 and two aged 15, were involved in two burglaries, one attempted burglary, stealing and attempted stealing.
All four youths have been jointly charged with burglary x2, attempted burglary x1, stealing x1 and attempted stealing x1.
“Police would like to thank members of the community who reported suspicious activity and assisted police inquiries,” a spokesperson said.
Jordan said she doesn’t believe the intruders were after anything in particular.
“I think they’re just bored and being pains because they’re not actually going in to the shop,” she said.
“They’re not even getting anything.”
She has now had reinforced glass installed and is upgrading her security, but said the costs are taking a toll on her small business.
“That’s just costs that have to come from me, unfortunately,” she said.
“We give a lot. It’s not exactly where you want your money to go to, to be honest.”
Jordan said she has owned the shop for just under two years and never had any issues with damages or break-ins before.
She said the street is full of early risers, with a butcher, the IGA and a bakery all operating from the early hours, making the break-ins brazen.
“They’re game because there is people around,” she said.
Anyone with information about burglary, stealing, or suspicious behaviour in the East Devonport area is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000.
