Beechworth and Chiltern businesses targeted by balaclava-clad bandits in long weekend raids
HAPPIER TIMES: Beechworth's Gum Tree Pies manager Nathan Howse, left, had his business broken into at the weekend.
Thieves have targeted small businesses in Beechworth and Chiltern still reeling from a summer downturn in trade due to low visitor numbers.
Hardest hit in the long weekend raid was Beechworth's Gum Tree Pies shop which had an undisclosed amount of cash left on the premises stolen overnight Saturday.
Cash was also taken from a clothing shop next door when its safe was jemmied opened and a fine art store and grocery, also in Ford Street, had their rear doors forced open.
The Beechworth break-ins have occurred after midnight and Wodonga police also confirmed a Chiltern butcher shop burglary and subsequent car chase on the Hume Freeway were related.
Also, more than $2000 worth of tools stolen from a ute in Chiltern were recovered on Sunday.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Ashley Eames said police had CCTV footage from Beechworth and Chiltern which showed three offenders wearing balaclavas and gloves.
"They are not beginners. They know what they are doing," he said.
Gum Tree Pies manager Nathan Howse said he discovered the missing cash from his business early Sunday after noticing signs of forced entry to the art gallery.
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The missing cash was in a bag stolen from the kitchen area.
Mr Howse said none of the shop's kitchen equipment was damaged in the raid and the business resumed trading yesterday.
"It was a few days worth of takings unfortunately," Mr Howse said.
"It is not usually left here, but it is one of those moments when unfortunately it wasn't taken home.
"They knew what they were doing coming in here looking for cash.
"It is good they didn't break anything else and we were lucky in that sense.
"But it is horrible and you feel vulnerable that a place you feel safe in has been broken into."
Mr Howse said the community and long weekend visitors had rallied around the business following the break-in.
"We've had a couple of people give us some cash as a donation," he said.
"We've had a really good response from the town to what has happened and we're so pleased they are getting around us like they have.
"They want to let us know that is not their town and that sort of stuff doesn't happen."