IN a note left at the scene, thieves blamed addiction and poverty for their actions after they broke into the Byng Street Local Store and Cafe and stole hundreds of dollars worth of food and cash.
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They were courteous enough to apologise for the crime in the note left in the cash register in place of the float they stole.
To make matters worse, cafe owner Jeremy Norris’ house next door was broken into on Tuesday night, five days after the business was robbed.
Thieves took electronics from the home but Mr Norris was devastated his late father’s ceremonial knife was taken.
“I was in tears yesterday, my father passed away just over a year ago and they nicked that,” he said.
“The television and all that can be replaced but not that.”
Mr Norris said governments need to take drug addiction seriously and start looking at ways to combat the problem because he saw it as the only way to reduce crime.
This was the seventh time in a year Mr Norris had been a victim of theft.
While he appreciated criminals often had a tragic back story he found the note in the cash register “hard to swallow”.
“I work very hard for my business, I work seven days a week and 12-hour days at the moment ... it’s frustrating that these people aren’t working and they’re usually living off the government,” he said.
Canobolas Local Area Command crime manager Bruce Grassick said property theft was not always linked to drugs but police recently had success with a targeted operation that netted drug dealers who received property in exchange for methamphetamines.
“It was called strike force Myack at the end of last year we were looking into a drug syndicate extending in Orange and Bathurst,” Detective Inspector Grassick said.
“We arrested three ladies for supplying a commercial quantity of methamphetamines and there was a recovery of property.”
Detective Inspector Grassick said police alleged the women would accept the stolen property and sell it on.
However in relation to Mr Norris’ thefts police were investigating the crime and could not rule in or out drugs, he said.
“A large amount of property crime is related to drugs but it doesn’t always go back to drugs,” he said.
Detective Inspector Grassick said drugs were a problem across the state and no more so in Orange.
“We have seen a significant amount of drugs, particularly methamphetamines, in the community but also in Cowra and satellite cities but it is no different to any other regional centre.”
nicole.kuter@fairfaxmedia.com.au