A MORDIALLOC beachside restaurant has been hit hard by thieves twice in the past week.
Windows on the Bay, in Beach Rd, was robbed of $7000 cash and a $3500 safe stolen overnight Sunday 19 June – only five days after the venue was robbed of almost $3000 in another overnight raid, Thursday 16 June.
In the latest incident, thieves smashed an office window and used extreme force to remove a heavy safe – bolted to the floor – containing the cash.
Police said the thieves appeared to have carried the safe out through the restaurant’s front doors as it was too big and heavy to fit through the office window. They then locked the doors and went back inside and escaped through the office window. Computers and iPads in the restaurant were not touched.
Windows on the Bay manager Line Thye described the robberies as “a big shock” – especially for her father, Palle Thye, who owns the popular beach-side eatery.
“It was awful finding out,” she said. “We have CCTV but it’s rather dark around here at night with no lighting in the park.”
She said there had been only one other break-in at the 22-year-old restaurant in the past six years. Police believe the same offenders may have been involved. Ms Thye said restaurant gift vouchers had been stolen along with cash. She warned people who may be offered the vouchers that they had no value.
After the earlier raid, a chef arrived at 8am, Friday 17 June, to find the back door open and items strewn across the office floor and the safe moved. The thieves had used a jemmy bar to force open a kitchen door and then smashed their way into an administration area using a fire extinguisher, rifling through draws and cupboards.
They stole $800 in tips, the previous night’s takings of $1164 and a $1000 wedding deposit.
Police said the thieves had not attempted to open or remove the safe in the earlier raid.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 22 June 2016