Edge Hill cafes hit in smash-and-grab style raids

A mini crime wave has Cairns proprietors counting the cost of smashed glass and damaged shopfronts as offenders go from one cafe to the next, smashing windows and stealing liquor with impunity.

Thieves also targeted Ozmosis in Edge Hill on Tuesday night causing damage to the front of the cafe. Picture: Lauren Vico

A mini crimewave has Edge Hill proprietors counting the cost of smashed glass and damaged shopfronts as offenders go from one cafe to the next, smashing windows and stealing liquor with impunity.

Already-increasing unlawful entry offences have been boosted by a recent spike in property crime throughout the trendy eat street precinct.

Last quarter according to Queensland Police Service data, there were 934 unlawful entry offences logged in the Cairns local government area.

The figure amounted to a 5.1 per cent increase on 842 offences reported in the previous quarter.

The Woodward St Bakery Cafe in Edge Hill was hit by thieves on Tuesday night. Picture: Woodward St Bakery Cafe

And there have been 55 unlawful entry offences reported in the past seven days.

The latest offences this week included a break-in at Ozmosis, Woodward St Bakery Cafe and the The Nest Cafe, all in Edge Hill.

Last week a group hit the Edge Hill Liquorland outlet and loaded up mini-vans with booze previously stolen from the Divers Den scuba school on Draper St.

Woodward St Bakery owner Anita Kumari lives around the corner from her shop and saw in real time the moment thieves busted through the front doors, but she arrived too late to catch the alleged trespassers in the act.

“It was really close to my house and we called the police and in five minutes we were there but we couldn’t save it from happening,” she said.

“There were three guys and they didn’t have their heads covered, they were confident.

“I’m very disappointed and angry and traumatised, all I can see is the door being smashed over and over in my head.

“I’m so scared of it happening again, there is no safety.”

Ms Kumari said the trio were seen getting away in a white Mitsubishi after robbing the till of an undisclosed sum.

Up the road at Ozmosis Café the glass front door was smashed down before six bottles of booze and cans of Coke were reportedly taken.

Thousands of dollars in damage has been met with widespread anger within the community.

One commenter in local social media group said: “This sh*t has to stop, our hearts go out to you all.”

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Originally published as Edge Hill cafes hit in smash-and-grab style raids