Suraj Sund is currently sleeping instore since a theft involving the use of an axe destroyed half the glass sliding doors into the store. It was one of two break-ins happening soon after the other, Blend Bar & Bistro was robbed of their Jim Beam guitar 26 hours later.

Police are making enquiries to identify those responsible. Meanwhile Sund is having to pay $13,000 for new roller doors out of his own pocket. He’s very concerned about the future of the store, regarding insurance. “I’m very scared if these things keep going, [the] insurance might say, ‘we’re not going to help you out because this keeps happening in your store.’ Where am I going to go?”

Before he opened the store, he contacted the council asking about the installation of bollards. Council CEO Geoff Swainson said that the bollards were turned down due to budgetary reasons and when bollards are requested for private property, the cost is covered by the business. With how the incident unfolded, the bollards wouldn’t have prevented this offense. Council staff have been in contact with Sund and would support other retailers on crime prevention advice and resources, Swainson said.

Source: The Post

07/07/25