‘Getting really serious’: Girls busted on camera robbing Cairns eatery

A daring robbery caught on CCTV at a Cairns City restaurant has netted thieves cash and a mobile phone as frustrated businesses grapple with crimes that are ‘happening too often’. SEE THE VIDEO

A DARING robbery caught on video at a Cairns City shopping centre has netted thieves cash and a mobile phone as frustrated business operators grapple with an escalating crime situation.

Last week CCTV vision captured a group of girls scurrying under the partially closed roller door of Orchid Plaza’s Yokozuna restaurant and passing stolen items to a woman.

CCTV footage showing a robbery in progress at an Orchid Plaza restaurant last week. Police have requested members of the public to come forward with information.

The woman can be seen in the video picking up an iPhone XR and umbrella from a table.

A nearby worker sees the girls climbing out from under the door and gives chase but the thieves get away down the escalator.

Orient Express sushi train owner Dean Ward said he had been warned by the owner of Yokozuna following the theft and everyday it was a battle to keep Orchid Plaza a welcoming place for diners.

“We have a lot of people in here that do things like turn off the escalators to taunt us and they abuse us,” he said.

CCTV footage showing the Orchid Plaza first floor.

Police have requested members of the public to come forward with information about the theft.

“We have groups of people come in and smoke and drink in the centre and some of the (people) get quite abusive, they will be yelling and swearing and causing a scene.

“We call security and they kick them out, but no sooner are they gone, they come back.

“The thing that bothers me the most is it discourages people from coming into the centre.”

Receptionist at an Orchid Plaza massage business Nara Lee said she recently had her car stolen after thieves broke into her second storey Cairns North apartment and took off with car keys.

While the badly damaged car was off the road for four weeks her Uber driving husband had no work.

“We didn’t have any income. So that’s why we just decided to move to Redlynch quickly,” she said.

Orchid Plaza worker Nara Lee said incidents in the centre happen “almost every single day”.

At her job in Orchid Plaza Ms Lee said youths trying to steal from the business was a regular occurrence but she was shocked to see the video of the Yokozuna restaurant theft.

“I can feel it’s getting really serious, it’s happening too often,” she said.

“Almost every single day, it’s really common, people like in this video screaming around and swearing

Orchid Plaza’s Yokozuna restaurant was targeted by thieves last week.

“This shop is an open place, and it’s very busy here. And sometimes some young kids try to come inside the shop to steal something.”

Police confirmed cash and “other property” had been stolen from the Orchid Plaza business.

“And we would ask anyone with any information to come forward,” a spokeswoman said.

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Originally published as ‘Getting really serious’: Girls busted on camera robbing Cairns eatery