A Kingaroy small business owner reveals shattering impact after alleged burglars ram stolen car into store

‘I don’t think they understand the personal effect on people’: A small-business owner reveals the heartbreaking impact a destructive ram-raid had on her beloved store.

Preparing to enjoy her day off from work, SPORTFIRST owner Cathy Goodhew instead woke to a nightmarish phone call informing her the store had been ram-raided. Photo/Holly Cormack.

Waking to a devastating call from police, SPORTFIRST owner Cathy Goodhew said she “couldn‘t think straight” as the officer on the other end of the line explained that the entrance to her beloved store had been found surrounded by shattered glass.

“This has happened to us before, but I was more upset this time,” Ms Goodhew said.

“Last time they just smashed their way in through the glass. All we had to do was take the glass out and put in some ply, so we could still utilize a door.

“This time it‘s rendered our access useless. We’ve got no safe customer access, so that shuts us down.”

Smashing their way into the small business with a stolen car at 2am on Sunday, July 4, two offenders grabbed armfuls of clothing, shoes and bags, before making their escape.

A 19-year-old Cherbourg man has since been charged with unlawful use of a vehicle and breaking and entering. Police are still searching for a second offender.

SPORTFIRST Kingaroy was shattered when offenders crashed a stolen car into the shop front. Photo/Facebook

Unfortunately, Ms Goodhew explained the products stolen is stock that cannot be replaced, having been pre-ordered a year in advance to account for COVID-19.

“We have an ordering system, where we order six to 12 months in advance. We ordered our stock for January through June next year,” she said.

“It‘s hard enough trying to get stock at the moment because of Covid. So, now it’s just left a hole in the stock, again.”

With years of self-renovations, early mornings and late-nights up her sleeve, Ms Goodhew said it was most upsetting to see how much hard work was undone by a single selfish act.

“I was upset because not only do they steal my stock, they steal my time, and that‘s what they don’t understand,” she said.

“I’m already time poor. I already spent a lot of time here. Obviously there‘s a lot of damage that comes with it, but I don’t think they understand the personal effect on people.”

After 14 years of serving the South Burnett, Ms Goodhew said the store means a lot to her and to the community as well.

“I love seeing some of the customers that we might have had in their junior day. I‘ve not only watched my own kids grow up here, I’ve watched a lot of kids grow up here,” she said.

“We had lots of community support yesterday, which was great. When we need it most is when we reopen.

“That's when we’ll need the community to get behind us, and come in and show their support.”

Originally published as A Kingaroy small business owner reveals shattering impact after alleged burglars ram stolen car into store