Drastic bid to deter thieves
A TOWNSVILLE business owner has taken the extraordinary step of stripping his store of cash, in a bid to deter relentless thieves from breaking in.
Garry Teitz, long- time owner of Twin Cities Pool Supplies, has made his Aitkenvale outlet cashless.
He said brazen thieves had broken in at least three times in recent months, both during opening hours and at night.
“The last time they stole the Eftpos machine, the NBN modem and the phone,” Mr Teitz said.
“So we no longer have the NBN or the phone, worth it.
“It’s like everything in Townsville, the crime is just going up. Nothing is being done about it.”
Brent Pollard, who runs the Aitkenvale store, said most customers paid by card but a few had been shocked by the change.
“But they understand why when it’s explained to them,” he said.
“[ I feel] annoyed when I come into work and we’ve been broken into again.”
Mr Teitz, who has two other stores in West End and on Magnetic Island, said he always had a crowbar nearby when working at the Aitkenit’s not vale branch. “They ( the thieves) come in during opening hours… they walk in when ( Brent) is in the toilet,” he said. “I don’t seem to have any control ( of the store).”
Mr Teitz has been in business for 35 years and said he wasn’t afraid of losing customers due to the switch to exclusively cashless payment.
Recently released crime statistics revealed there have been 2840 unlawful entry offences in Townsville this year, including 1195 cases of shop stealing.
This is an increase of about 9 per cent and 12 per cent respectively from the same time frame last year.