19 June, 2020

True crime: Paradox Books fleeced of till takings

Devonport’s Paradox Books had its takings stolen in broad daylight last week, leaving a bitter post-Covid-19 aftertaste.

The theft of cash from the bookshop’s till took place last Monday (June 8).

Staff were in the shop at the time. Owner Terrie Gray suspects the thief was “casing the shop” to slip in quickly when they were away from the counter.

Gray did not want to say how much was stolen, but said “bigger notes” were taken.

The theft highlights the lack of banking facilities in Devonport.

Gray usually drives to Takapuna for banking as she feels uncomfortable standing at an ATM feeding notes into the machine.

She had banked at ANZ and then Westpac in Devonport, but both these banks have now closed their branches.

“I’d left the banking for a few days and the cash had built up a bit,” she said.

Gray has lodged the theft with police. Her insurance excess ruled out a claim to cover the cash that was taken.

The day after the theft, the shop was hit by a water leak and the following day a likely scammer turned up at the shop with a sob story to tell.

“Things tend to come in threes,” Gray said.