Gum Tree Pies in Wodonga has been broken into once again just over two weeks after its front door was smashed by a burglar.
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This time a larger window appears to have been chiseled through to gain access to what could hardly be called a huge pay day - a jar of cookies.
Gum Tree Pies general manager Codey Keeble said multiple lockdowns and the two break-ins had left the business in dire straits.
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"Last time I said that if people were so desperate we could give them a job," Mr Keeble said.
"But if these lockdowns keep happening I don't think we can.
"For both times, what they've stolen is a pittance.
"This is just blow after blow, I don't know how much more we can take.
"Something's got to give and whether we have to lay off staff or not, which I really don't want to do because I'm trying to support my staff here as much as possible. If you had half a brain you'd break in somewhere that money is actually flowing, but the money isn't flowing so there's nothing to steal.
"To do this over cookies is just frustrating."
Mr Keeble said he estimated the window would cost at least $3000 to replace and that the previous break-in caused about $10,000 in damage.
Mr Keeble said that given we are in lockdown, replacing broken windows and doors was no simple feat.
"That shop looks horrible right now," he said.
"Last lockdown they couldn't get a glazier out because they weren't allowed to work, so the two weeks between the lockdown we had to try and get one out.
Then we had to try and find the right kind of glass and we couldn't manage that in the two weeks out of lockdown and now this has happened.
"I said last time if we were running business normally and we were getting people through the door we'd be alright.
"But we've barely got money coming in, we can barely pay staff and keep the electricity on."
Despite the successive blows from COVID restrictions and break-ins Mr Keeble remains empathetic.
"I'm in two minds, yes everyone is struggling and maybe people feel that is all they can do, they don't have a job or any way of getting through this," he said.
"But to target a small business just doesn't really seem fair at all.
"If people are really struggling, across all four of our stores we have a pay it forward wall, people have maybe put $20 or $50 on the wall and someone can come in and take that off the wall.
"We're not going to ask any questions, you can just come in and collect it.
"If you're thinking about breaking in, just come in first and take one of those vouchers off the wall and we can sort you out for dinner for the week."