Theft A Second Big Blow For Hotel
Newcastle Herald
Friday December 1, 2000
OPPORTUNISTIC thieves have broken into Branxton's Commercial Hotel and stolen more than $3000 from poker machines.
The burglary was discovered yesterday morning by publican Dean Lambkin when he arrived at the hotel to begin the massive clean-up from Wednesday's violent storm.
Insurance assessors estimate the storm caused $150,000 damage to the hotel.
The damage was so severe that it was unsafe for anyone to remain in the building overnight.
`With no power, no alarms and nobody staying at the hotel somebody has obviously worked out that it was a good time to break in,' Mr Lambkin said.
He said he did not believe a local person was responsible for the burglary.
`I'm sure no local person would stoop that low knowing how hard we were hit by the storm,' he said.
It is understood the thieves jemmied a rear door between 2am and dawn. Singleton police are investigating.
Mr Lambkin said the hotel was likely to remain closed for several weeks.
`We really don't know the extent of the structural damage yet,' he said.
© 2000 Newcastle Herald
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