OWNERS of businesses fronting Bendigo's View Street are concerned after a number of break-ins and attempted break-ins.
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It comes after two paintings, collectively worth more than $10,000, were stolen from Llanvair.H.R Gallery.
Harvest Food and Wine experienced an attempted break-in on Sunday evening, which has been reported to police.
The premises, in the heart of the city's arts precinct, sustained a small amount of damage.
Bendigo Corner Store Cafe had to re-stock its coolroom last week, after all but a few of its contents were stolen.
The cafe's owner, Adam Nicoletti, said he received a call from his chef early one morning saying the coolroom had been 'cleaned out'.
A single stubby of beer, some relish and some bread were among the few items that remained.
Mr Nicoletti said he'd experienced theft from the coolroom before, but never on such a large scale.
There was no indication, to his knowledge, that those responsible had attempted to gain access to the inside of the cafe.
"It was a bit peculiar," Mr Nicoletti said.
Harvest Food and Wine's Lincoln Riley said the impact of crimes targeting businesses along the street was greater than the obvious costs associated with any property damage, stolen stock or loss of funds.
"Everyone works hard and takes pride in their stuff," Mr Riley said.
The idea of someone deliberately damaging what business owners had built was also a consideration.
Mr Riley said people had to be vigilant, with a number of View Street stores believed to have been targeted.
Llanvair.H.R Gallery owner and artist Helena Richardson-Collins was left baffled by the items taken from her gallery.
They included two paintings of the Coliban River, an EFTPOS machine and a notebook containing clients' details.
"Why would they take two on the same subject?" Ms Richardson-Collins told the Bendigo Advertiser earlier in the week.
"They didn't randomly pick any of the other paintings... they took these two specific pieces."
Police investigations into the thefts at View Street businesses are ongoing.
The Central Victoria Response Unit was unable to comment on how many incidents it was investigating.
Anyone with information is urged to call Bendigo Police Station on 5448 1300 or to make a confidential report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
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Emma D'Agostino
Covering general news and Bendigo council.
Covering general news and Bendigo council.
