Riverstone Country Gift Shop employees are gutted after $1000 worth of items were stolen from Oamaru store.
Shop manager Katie Jacobs was really disappointed.
"It’s like going into someone’s garden and ripping out the flowers."
At 2am on January 15, two wind ornaments valued at $300 each were stolen, as well as various shop items.
An employee noticed the items were missing, after having put them on display two days before.
They called Ms Jacobs to ask if she had a busy few days.
Having been no busier than usual, Ms Jacobs became suspicious and reviewed the shop’s security footage.
She was shocked to see two middle-age women recorded stealing the wind ornaments and filling two to three recycling bags with various shop items.
"Burglary is one of the worst crimes. It’s someone else’s hard work, ripped out from underneath them.
"Just come during business hours. Don’t spoil it for our valued customers."
Ms Jacobs said that although theft was not a common thing the shop experienced, it was in the process of increasing security measures.
Police were reviewing the relevant CCTV footage and wished to speak to the two women involved.
Anyone who had information about the incident or who recognised the two garden ornaments was asked to contact police.
- Phone (03)433-1400, the police non-emergency phone 105, or Crimestoppers on 0800555-111, quoting file number 210118/3845.
