By Corey Everitt
Berwick MP Brad Battin is rallying support for Beaconsfield small businesses after a sledgehammer-wielding thief devastated two shops early Monday morning.
The incident has left owners, Georgia and Mikala, of cafe Middle Ground feeling ‘targetted’ when an individual clad in black smashed through their door in the early hours of Monday 26 August.
Security footage showed the thief using a sledgehammer to break the glass door, where they entered the business and broke into their safe.
Fortunately, the contents of the safe at the time were largely empty and the cost of the incident was mostly the replacement of the door at $750.
However, the individual would then move next door to restaurant Streets of Punjab where they reportedly broke into the business’s tills and safe.
Georgia and Mikala only started their 11 months ago, two young business owners both under the age of thirty.
Georgia described how she can’t help but see her work differently now.
“It’s not a nice feeling that someone like that can show up especially when I get in at 5.45 in the morning all by myself,” she said.
In response, local MP Brad Battin has called for locals to come out and show their support this Friday 30 August.
‘Crime rates continue to increase across Cardinia, we must never forget each of these stats has a victim,“ he said.
“The victim here is a small business, a place that is employing locally, supporting the community and taking on the risk to run their own business. We as a community shouldn’t stand for this.’
Locals can inject some generous cash for both of the businesses’ recovery as well as show the owners that the community stands behind them.
Battin will be at Middle Ground from 8am to 10am where locals can have a chat with a coffee and breakfast.
In the evening, Battin is calling on locals to get some take-away from Streets of Punjab, a perfect excuse to indulge in Indian cuisine for dinner.
Police investigation remains ongoing, anyone with information is urged to contact Narre Warren Police Station on (03) 9705 3111 or through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
