Tobacconist's shop reopens

It has taken Umina Beach business owner Cathy James almost a week to reopen her shop following a ram-raid, which left her "thousands of dollars out of pocket".

Ms James said that on March 15 at around 2:30am, thieves ram-raided Tobacco Station on West St using a stolen car.

Ms James said witnesses to the incident called police immediately.

She said the thieves had stolen thousands of dollars worth of cash, cigarettes, lighters and accessories, which "will not be entirely covered by insurance".

Ms James has owned the Umina tobacconist for more than nine years and said she is "lucky" to have had no other major incidents.

"I have had one attempted robbery and two vandal attacks over the nine years I have been here," Ms James said.

"I am just lucky I have such a tight security system in place to prevent an attack.

"The police commented on how hard it would have been for the robbers to gain entry into the shop because it is like Fort Knox".

Ms James said closed circuit television cameras captured footage of the thieves reversing four times into the shop front before breaking the window and security fencing.

Police have since found the stolen car involved in the ram-raid in Sydney and are continuing with their investigation.

Ms James said she believed "more police on night patrol in the area or a local police station" would be the "only way to prevent further crime" in the area.

"I was obviously shocked by what happened to my business, but I also feel violated and angry," Ms James said.

"All this has definitely made me think twice about continuing with business."

Ms James said despite what has happened to her shop in recent weeks, the Peninsula is still a "friendly" and "unique" place to live and work.

Clare Graham, 22 March 2007