A SMALL business owner has been left frustrated and fears he may be forced to close after another break-in.
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Thieves targeted Albury Family Car Centre on Nurigong Street in the early hours of Sunday morning.
They left with two vehicles, including a 2013 Ford Territory worth about $15,000 which still hasn’t been recovered.
A 2009 Ford Falcon was also stolen and was later found and examined by police.
Perhaps more concerning was the theft of about 50 keys inside the car dealership’s office, leading to fears from owner Mick Ristic the offenders will return and take more cars.
“I’m absolutely concerned they will come back,” he said.
“They have no regard for anyone or anything.
“They have the keys to all the cars.”
Mr Ristic has been increasingly concerned by the number of break-ins at his business, which have been escalating in seriousness.
He said the property had been targeted about once a month for the past six months.
“We’ve lost two sets of wheels, we’ve had people come in and take petrol and the fence has been cut half a dozen times for people to get in,” Mr Ristic said.
“Number plates were stolen about a month ago.
“This time they’ve cut the chains off the gates and broken the fence, found the keys and taken the two vehicles.
“I will have to invest in whatever I can to protect my business, or at the end of the day, if it keeps going like this, it’s not worth being here.”
Mr Ristic said he couldn’t afford to keep losing stock and paying for repairs.
“How long can you keep doing that?” he said.
“I’ll just have to shut the doors and forget about it.
“I’ve been here about two years and it was OK in the beginning.
“In the past six months or so, we’ve been done over at least half-a-dozen times in one way or the other.
“This is the most serious.”
He has a feeling the same people are involved in the incidents.
The car salesman believes the legal system needs to take a stronger approach to those involved in such offending.
Police are investigating the matter.