Vic hotel break-in

A LARGE amount of cash was stolen during a break in at the Victoria Hotel in Throssell Street on Monday morning.

Publican Tracey Denholm said it is believed two unknown intruders smashed their way in through the beer garden’s glass sliding door at 3.28am.

Mrs Denholm said she thought the intruders used a hammer or mallet to get in, and then smashed the thick, wooden office door to access a safe.

The intruders also attempted to disable the hotel’s security cameras, however one camera at the back door was left operational.

Glass and wood splinters were strewn across the pub floor, and discovered by the cleaner who arrived at 5.30am.

Mrs Denholm and her husband Troy received the news from the cleaner, before the police were contacted.

The thieves stole the weekend’s takings, TAB cash and change.

Mrs Denholm said it took the offenders “minutes” to find what they were looking for, as the only operational security camera filmed them leaving through the back door.

“There was no hesitation, they knew how to get out,” Mrs Denholm said.

Mr and Mrs Denholm said it led them to believe the theft was carried out by someone who knew the inner workings of the pub.

“General public wouldn’t know what’s in there, but they knew where it was and what they were taking,” Mr Denholm said.

The couple said they were devastated, as the break-in happened one day before their first anniversary in business.

“You work so hard just for this to happen, it’s heartbreaking,” Mrs Denholm said.

On Monday afternoon, the couple was waiting for the police forensic team to examine the scene.

“I just want to get in and clean it - I want to cry every time I look at it,” Mrs Denholm said of the debris on the floor.

“We couldn’t open today - it’s a loss of wages and a loss of earnings.”

Mrs Denholm estimated that closing on Monday caused the business to lose an extra $2500 in earnings, on top of what was stolen.