Thieves are carrying out daring early morning break-ins on wine country cellar doors but they aren’t fleeing the scenes with top shelf shiraz.
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The bandits are targeting portable EFTPOS machines and refunding sales to obtain cash.
Break-ins have occurred over the past two weeks at cellar doors, restaurants and day spas located around Pokolbin.
The thefts have prompted police to warn business owners to store their EFTPOS terminals securely.
“At this stage there have been a small number of thefts of EFTPOS terminals," Central Hunter crime manager Detective Inspector Mitch Dubojski said.
"We are issuing a warning to business owners to make them aware of the issue and to encourage greater security."
Police are urging business to be vigilant with security and report suspicious activity around EFTPOS terminals.
They say terminals should be in an area that's under CCTV surveillance and should be locked away when the business is closed.
Lambloch cellar door on Broke Road was one business targeted last Sunday morning.
Cellar door manager Geoff Steele said thieves broke in through a glass door at the front of the premises and fled with their EFTPOS terminal.
“There were a few cupboard doors open. We don’t think anything else was taken but we won’t know for sure until we do a stocktake,” he said.
“We rang the bank straight away and got them to freeze the machine so it was a zero score for those guys,” Mr Steele said.
“It will cost a few hundred for us to replace the door and in the meantime we have the inconvenience of dealing with a boarded up shop front.
“This has been going on over the past two weeks. They are getting very game,” Mr Steele said.
“I had heard that one of the intruders had cut themselves and forensic police obtained blood samples so we’re hoping they can be tracked that way and arrested.
“We have all tightened our security as a result.”
It is understood police found a burnt-out car on De Beyers Road, Pokolbin which contained empty cash boxes.
It was only a few weeks ago that the iconic Tyrrell’s Family Wines also on Broke Road was broken into.
The incident occurred over the Easter long weekend with thieves gaining entry to a workshop stealing motor vehicles and tools.
Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
