Lounges Plus Bathurst has become the latest victim of a senseless break and enter over the weekend.
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In the early hours of Sunday morning, unknown offenders broke their way into the Sydney Road business, making off with cash, the store's computer and various items of paperwork [refund cheques, receipts etc.]
Lounges Plus Bathurst store manager Marica Marton said the offenders broke in through a small window in the staff toilet.
"We got a phone call at 3.30am informing us that someone was in the building," Ms Marton said.
"On arrival at the store, we found doors wide open, windows smashed and part of the ceiling caved in.
"They were in the store for around an hour and escaped through the external doors."
Mr Marton said the stolen cash included takings from the previous day, and that the loss of the computer has caused a major inconvenience.
"Without the computer, we're back to processing sales manually on paper or via mobile phone," she said.
While no merchandise was taken from the store, Ms Marton said the offenders made off with a bunch of trivial items in addition to cash and the computer.
"They took tape measures and fabric protection certificates; I can't comprehend what use they would be to thieves," she said.
"It gives you a sick feeling that someone has been rifling through your personal belongings."
Ms Marton said the ordeal is expected to leave a significant repair bill.
"The window in the staff toilet was made of thick glass, so they must've had a strong implement on them to break it," she said.
"We now have to resecure the entire premises to ensure something like this doesn't happen again."
Taking a positive away from a negative situation, Ms Marton was thankful the thieves left the store's Elton John window display untouched, which they had delicately prepared to celebrate the music legend's Bathurst concert.
Police are currently assessing CCTV footage to identify the culprits.
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Sam Bolt
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
