AN EAST ALBURY antique store has been ransacked by thieves who took off with $4000 worth of goods in a vintage pram, according to the owner.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Aussie Mantiques and Collectables proprietor Steve Jaksetic said something was amiss when he entered the East Street-based store on Saturday morning.
“I’d never experienced that feeling before,” he said.
Doors were jarred and cupboards had been opened when Mr Jaksetic realised collectable items were missing, including a 1960s pram.
“It was a beautiful powder blue pram from the 1960s that I actually got from a family friend,” he said. “They’ve loaded that up and walked out.”
Mr Jaksetic, who runs the business with his wife Melanie, was still trying to ascertain the value of what was stolen but estimated it to be around $4000.
“The unusual thing is items like a Rolls-Royce bonnet emblem were stolen,” he said. “I mean, this is stuff that’s very unique.”
The stolen antiques, which also included a tin tugboat toy and mink fur, were not necessarily easily sellable.
Mr Jaksetic was confused as to whether the thieves knew they were targeting an antique store. “I don’t know whether they were out of town,” he said.
Mr Jaksetic believed the intruders accessed the property through a rear window shielded from view by a neighbouring house.
In response, he had no choice but to close his doors to not compromise the scene for forensic police investigators, who will inspect the property on Monday.
Closing shop proved difficult to handle for Mr Jaksetic because customers showed up from interstate over the weekend.
“We were turning people away because we had to,” he said.
“I’d rather lose two days in trading and have the best possible chance of getting these guys through the fingerprints.
“They literally opened every drawer and every door – they were here for a while.”
However, a silver lining came with the online response of surrounding antiques stores.
Mr Jaksetic took to Facebook to warn fellow traders of stolen items on the market and was encouraged by their solidarity.
“People from shops in Wagga Wagga to Shepparton are all saying they’ll keep an eye out,” he said.
“There’s an online auction site for rare bottles and they don’t know me from Adam, but they’ve liked our Facebook page and the word has obviously got to them that there was this rare bottle that was stolen.
“They’re going to keep an eye out for it.”
The store will reopen on Wednesday from 11am.
