They’ve had it

By Tania Martin
EMERALD traders are calling for more police on the beat following a spate of break-ins.
They believe local youths are flouting the law because they know they can get away with it.
This follows a spate of late night break-ins.
Traders said the spike in crime all started last month when the thieves smashed their way into the Paradise Hotel and stole an ATM sometime between 8pm and 11pm on Tuesday 12 January.
The crime spree continued Thursday 28 January when thieves broke into the town’s DVD shop shortly after 2am, stealing 200 rental video games worth more than $17,500.
Thieves returned to the scene the following morning and smashed their way into the Greenroom cafe, which is just a few doors down from the video shop.
Emerald Greenroom owner Jacqui Walker said the thieves stole the cash register and several bottles of alcohol.
She said the smashed cash register was found several hours later by police, at Emerald Secondary College.
Ms Walker said it was only lucky there was no money.
“In the end we were able to put it back together,” she said.
Ms Walker said it was a big shock, especially as it seemed crime was escalating.
“It’s upsetting in a small community like Emerald,” she said.
The Emerald Pharmacy was also broken into shortly after 5am on Wednesday 3 February.
Police said thieves smashed the glass at the front of the store to gain access and stole a box of medication before fleeing from the scene.
Emerald Pharmacy’s Louise Lammers believes the area was being targeted because youths knew police were not around late at night.
“It’s just escalated over the past three months … they are going around town and picking one after another,” she said.