Ohakune shop vandal's victim

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 249, 5 July 1988, Page 1

Ohakune shop vandal's victim

Ohakune business people Bob and Margaret McGinniss, are sick and tired of being the brunt of thieves and vandals. Their business, Far End Trading has been broken into or vandalised six times b y local youths in the last six months. Three of these incidents occurred over a six-week period in December and January. The latest incident was Sunday June 26. The couple arrived at work Monday morning to find two broken windows.

Bob McGinniss was shocked and angry. "My first reaction' was 'That's it' - close the shop and g o home." Fortunately for their customers they decided against closing the business. "We have a commitment to our customers and to the people who bring in clothing to sell." When word got around town that w e were thinking of closing, a lot of people came in and told us they didn't want to see

us shut," said M r McGinniss. Replacing the broken windows and installing bars and burglar alarms has been a costly exercise for the couple. So much so that saies are bad because they have not been able to afford to buy in winter stock. With each broken window, another $160 goes from their savings to replace it. Even bars fail to act as a deterrent. "They just break the glass and it's that much more difficult to replace it."