At 11:45 pm on Sunday night it’s believed several teenagers broke into the Namoi Hotel and attempted to steal 8 cartons of rum and coke cans.
Thieves broke the lock from the door of the bottle shop and used a green council garbage bin as a get away vehicle for the stolen goods.
A quick response from security and police meant the thieves were forced to dump the alcohol in bushes behind the Mid Town Inn on Maitland Street.
Co-owner of the Namoi Hotel, Wendy Weakley, said she was
disappointed by the lack of respect shown for their property.
“They’ve just come in the back gate and broken the lock to get into the storage room near the bottle shop, so we’ll have to get that lock replaced,” she explained.
“As far as I can see it’s only kids because they’re on foot, if it was anyone else they’d have just thrown the cartons in a car.”
The Weakleys were called in as soon as the alarms were set off, but security and police were already on the scene.
Mrs Weakley praised the assistance provided by all involved.
“It was a great response from the Armtrol security system, they were here in no time, the police were also very quick to respond,” she said.
“We wouldn’t have been able to retrieve the cartons if it wasn’t for the actions of police and security.
“The police have got a fair idea who it is, but they didn’t catch them in the act .”
Local police are still investigating the incident.