THIEVES have targeted three Kelso businesses as a spate of break and enters around the city continues.
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Managers were called into their stores early yesterday morning after Harvey Norman, BCF and Masters were all broken into overnight.
At least six businesses have been broken into in the past week, including a motel in Charlotte Street, Masters, Jumbo’s Jungle in Littlebourne Street and a business in William Street.
In addition, the PCYC in Morrisset Street and a school in Bathurst have also suffered break-ins.
Harvey Norman electrical franchisee Beau Lane said he was called to the store by security just after 2.30am.
When he arrived, he said he found one of the building’s external safety doors had been forced open, and an office had been ransacked.
A two-metre long crowbar, which was used to force the door open, was left behind outside the business by the perpetrators, who were in a rush after the alarms were activated.
“They got inside and ransacked the office,” Mr Lane said.
“There is an old paper safe there which they went through; it had nothing in it. They are pretty stupid.
“They also broke into BCF and Masters, which is the third time they’ve been broken into.”
Mr Lane said the store was alarmed and had CCTV cameras all through it. The images are now being reviewed by police.
He said it looked like the intruders had left in a hurry; a stand had been knocked over as if someone had tripped over it.
“In a small town like Bathurst you don’t really expect this. I’m a bit surprised,” Mr Lane said.
“But I guess at the end of the day there is crime everywhere.”
Mr Lane said forensic police spent the morning in the store taking fingerprints from doors.
With that evidence, and the CCTV footage, he is hoping those responsible will get caught.
He said the police and security responded very quickly.
“Security were here within three minutes,” he said.
Mr Lane said he didn’t think it was kids responsible given the size of the crowbar left behind.
Chifley local area command duty officer Inspector Gerard Powell said police were continuing their investigations into the break and enters and urged anyone with information to come forward.
