Bakery crippled for two drinks

A small-town bakery has been crippled for the sake of two energy drinks.

The Bakehouse Cafe in Te Kauwhata had its front door smashed in overnight and two energy drinks were the only items stolen.

Owner Chantu Nob woke to a security alert on her phone at 2.30am yesterday, got in her car and raced down to the Waikato store in her pyjamas.

‘‘I thought I’d be able to catch the people,’’ Nob said.

‘‘There was broken glass everywhere,’’ she said. ‘‘They smashed the whole front door and it’s a very big door.

‘‘I don’t think they even touched the till. They just took the drinks and took off.’’

Nob believes the ram raiders reversed into the front of her shop, as the car’s rear lights were in pieces on the floor.

‘‘There’s a wooden pole in the middle of the store, which helps support the roof. That’s been broken down so we’ve had to shut for safety.’’

Nob hopes the pole will be repaired over the next two days, so she can reopen as soon as possible.

She estimates the damage to be between $4000 and $5000.

‘‘I hope it’s no more. Contents insurance isn’t going to cover it because they didn’t take anything.

‘‘Hopefully my landlord will help though.’’

Nob has owned the The Bakehouse Cafe for the past four-anda-half years and has never been robbed before.

Her bakery wasn’t the only business targeted overnight.

The offenders allegedly robbed a petrol station on the Bombay Hills after the Te Kauwhata raid.

‘‘There is a bit of cross-border activity and police from both districts will be working on these matters,’’ Waikato police Senior Sergeant Phil Ruddell said.

Three of the four people allegedly behind the early morning crimes were arrested in South Auckland early yesterday.