Store manager Tara Herring and business owner Nathan McCabe were allegedly assaulted by a customer around 3pm on Monday after confronting him about shoplifting.

Ms. Herring said the man picked up Mr. McCabe and threw him across the store, before pushing her and getting away.

Still reeling from Monday’s incident, the staff woke to the bad news on Wednesday morning that the store had been broken into – for the fourth time in two years.

Security camera footage from a nearby business showed two people breaking through the front door with an axe around 4.15am.

A large amount of men’s apparel, including Nike and Adidas shirts and shorts, and a couple of pair of shoes were stolen.

Sportspower has been operating out of temporary premises in Vincent Street since the April 21 storm, when the store was severely damaged.

A few weeks later, thieves broke in and raided the rain-soaked goods.

Ms. Herring said the police are always efficient, have caught and charged a number of shoplifters, and arrived just 40 seconds after Monday’s incident.

But she said these crimes have highlighted the need for closed-circuit television cameras in the CBD.

“We need CCTV in the main street,” she said.

“Not just for shop security; but for the general public in the street.”

According to the latest NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research report, there were 207 break-and-enters in non-dwellings in the Cessnock local government area in the 12 months up to 2015.

This was 26 more than the previous 12 months, and is 2.2 times the state average (based on incidents per 100,000 people).

There were 160 steal from retail store incidents recorded, 21 fewer than the previous 12 months, and on par with the state average.

Information on crime can be anonymously reported to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.