Fears over break-ins

Moonah businesses hit

TWO small retail owners are fearing for their safety after both were victims in a recent “small spike” of break-ins.

Gourmet Spices owner Jarnail “Jimmy” Singh received a police call yesterday at 6am saying his Moonah premises had been ransacked, just weeks after his Bellerive restaurant was broken into.

He said $180 was stolen from his cash register, along with $700 in donations, a food trolley and some mobile phones.

“Most of the people know me around the area,” he said.

“Nothing has happened to me in four years, but this time it’s two incidents in two weeks.”

He said his wife had saved $10 in donations every day for charities and causes, only for the box to be stolen.

Just two doors down, Yaser Mohammadifard said he cleaned up for two hours after his Middle Eastern Bazaar windows were smashed during the store’s third attempted break-in in two months.

Mr Mohammadifard said the first break-in was successful, but later attempts failed due to a new protective layer behind his window. He said despite more than $2000 in damages, he was more concerned about feeling safe and being able to sleep.

“Now, I have to (wake up) and wonder what is happening in the shop,” he said. “We are all trying to survive.”

Mr Singh said he was grateful the community had shown immense support on Facebook when his Bellerive business Dawat Indian Cuisine was broken into.

Glenorchy CIB Detective Inspector Troy Morrisby said three businesses in total were impacted in what was believed to be an overnight series of related breakins at Hopkins St, Moonah.

He said forensics were waiting for results and he encouraged business owners to keep their CCTV operating and linked to a hard drive.

“Our reporting in the Glenorchy area is down from last year,” he said. “But if we see a particular pattern emerge early on, we look at identifying suspects as soon as we can.”