AN INJURED left leg may be the key to identifying a thief caught stealing a Wodonga eatery's tip jar on CCTV.
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Cafe Grove owner Trevor Broadbent said he was a bit “nervous” about people in hoodies, after a male offender broke-in to his business about 10pm Monday.
An alarm was triggered after a front window was smashed to gain entry.
With a torch in-hand and a compression wrap around his left knee, the thief limped directly toward the empty cash register. As the alarm wailed, the thief hastened his movements.
He spent less than a minute inside, to steal only the tip jar, before forcing his way out a front door.
Police said the man then attempted to break-in to Beazley's Meats across the road then left the scene.
Mr Broadbent said he believed his business's security system prevented further damage.
“It’s a little bit unnerving, you feel a bit violated, but by same token we are grateful there’s not excessive damage,” he said.
“When I set off the alarm, I scare the hell out of myself – so I think he would have been on edge.
“He started getting really fast, trying to get the job done quick … when you have a screaming alarm, you don’t know how long until someone arrives.”
The offender made-off with about $30 in total.
He caught the leg of his tracksuit pants on the door on the way out, resulting in a bent metal panel, which was replaced.
Mr Broadbent said he was thankful none of his 21 staff members were on-site.
“I called the police and they were here within two minutes – they are our neighbours,” he said.
“I’ve got food and drinks in the cafe. He wasn’t here to take a television, it was all about the cash.”
It’s a little bit unnerving, you feel a bit violated.
- Trevor Broadbent
Wodonga Detective Tristan Purss labelled it a “brazen” attack on High Street businesses.
He said it was too early to determine a motive or whether the offender had been to the business before.
“Ten o’clock is still quite early in evening, I’d imagine quite a few members of the public would be about and it’s right near a busy intersection,” Detective Purss said.
“The offender had a very obvious limp to his left leg and may have a possible injury to his left knee.
“We would like to speak to anyone aware of someone who has an injury like that.”
Anyone with information should contact Wodonga police on (02) 6049 2600.
