Burglar targets two Wodonga businesses struggling through lockdown

Gum Tree Pies and Andiamo Street Kitchen in Junction Square were burgled in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Security camera footage shows a man ripping a $7000 cash register out of the pie business about 12.30am after smashing windows.

He then smashed the machine.

Manager Codey Keeble said the man would have taken about $60 worth of coins but caused extensive and costly damage.

"It hasn't come at a great time," he said.

"If we were making money it would be alright, we could quickly fix it, but Covid has hit quite hard.

"If the guy is really desperate for money, I can give him a job."

Mr Keeble said the business had lost about 70 per cent of income across all stores.

While the Wodonga store hasn't fared as badly as other outlets, the lockdown and wet weather had made things much harder.

Mr Keeble said he had hoped to sell excess stock which had been purchased before the lockdown but the break-in had further hampered those plans.

He said the offender, who had his face and hands covered, had only been inside his business for about 12 seconds.

He left a trail of coins leading out of the Junction Square business.

Andiamo owner Andrea Burgio discovered damage to his site at 6.30am, including broken windows and flooding.

"There was glass shattered in every single corner of the kitchen," he said.

"He managed to break the main tarp so there was water going everywhere.

"It will take a long time to clean up."

Both stores had to close due to the damage.

Mr Burgio said he hoped to resume trading on Friday.

"We were hoping to trade during the sunshine," he said.

"We've had to send staff home.

"It's been a tough week because of lockdown but I guess we've just got to be strong."

Police attended the crime scenes as part of their investigation.

Anyone with information can call Wodonga Police on (02) 6049 2600 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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