Tasmanian Prime Meats target of $6000 meat theft

A butchery owner is questioning whether Tasmania is the right place for a business, after his store was repeatedly targeted by thieves. Here’s what was stolen.

MD Imadul Islam Rahat of Tasmanian Prime Meats in Goodwood has been targeted by thieves who have stolen meat. Picture: Linda Higginson

A northern suburbs butcher is “heartbroken” after alleged thieves broke into his storage containers and took more than $6000 worth of meat.

Tasmanian Prime Meat director Imadul Islam Rahat said more than 18 boxes went missing at his Goodwood butcher on Friday.

“This stress sometimes makes us feel like we should change our profession – is this the right thing for us or is Tasmania the right place to be a business owner,” he said.

“For a small business it’s something that at the end of the day will affect our prices,” Mr Rahat said.

CCTV footage shows alleged thieves stealing up to 18 boxes of meat from Goodwood butcher Tasmanian Prime Meats. Picture: Supplied

Mr Rahat was at the opening of his new kebab shop Ozman Kebabs in Moonah on Friday, when he heard the news that his storage container locks had been cut, and the boxes of chicken, lamb and goat were missing.

Tasmania Police said the stealing and burglary matter was reported on September 21 and two people, a 33-year-old man from Goodwood and a 36-year-old man from Brighton, had been charged over the incident.

CCTV footage shows alleged thieves stealing up to 18 boxes of meat from Goodwood butcher Tasmanian Prime Meats. Picture: Supplied

Mr Rahat said the theft caused stress for him and his employees, as it happened during daylight.

“What if one of my employees was out the back at the time?” he said.

Mr Rahat said he was glad that his shop was once the target of vandalism, but that some youths involved in prior incidents had come to say sorry.

“That’s a good sign that people are accepting to other cultures,” he said.

Mr Rahat said Muslim communities across the state rely on his business to supply them with good quality halal meat as well as mainstream customers.

“About 30 per cent of our customers care about halal but the rest they come here anyway because we process everything every week,” he said.

Before Mr Rahat came to Tasmania from Bangladesh, the Muslim community had to order halal meat from the mainland.

He decided to start the butchery to combat the “dire” situation in 2018 and now with around 42 employees the shop has become a place for cultural and community connections.

“This place has a lot of importance to a lot of Tasmanians who are living here, who may not have been born here originally but are living here,” Mr Rahat said.