Rollers Bakery, an Auckland establishment known for its connection to golfer Ryan Fox, temporarily closed its doors after an attempted break-in. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, left the bakery with damaged doors and a smashed window, forcing its closure for the day.
Co-owner Tamara Tait recounted that her business partner was inside the Northcote shop early Saturday morning, preparing sourdough and pastries. At approximately 3:30 am, a man reportedly approached the bakery, initially attempting to enter through a side door.
Attempted Entry and Damage
The individual then moved to the front of the bakery, where Tait stated he began to forcefully try and gain entry. She described the man ramming the door with his shoulder aggressively. During this time, her business partner barricaded himself inside the shop, using bread racks to secure the premises.
Despite the efforts to prevent entry, a window was broken, and the door was significantly damaged. Tait confirmed that the alleged offender ultimately fled the scene without successfully entering the bakery. Police arrived shortly after the incident, and inquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.
Fortunately, nothing was stolen from the bakery, and Tait’s business partner was physically unharmed, though he was reportedly shaken by the experience. The damage necessitated the bakery’s closure for Saturday to allow for the clearing of broken glass and the commencement of door repairs.
Community Reaction and Bakery’s History
The closure led to disappointment among regular customers who arrived for their usual Saturday bread. Tait noted that staff spent part of the morning explaining the situation to these patrons, who were understanding despite the inconvenience. She mentioned that everyone had been supportive.
This incident follows a period of increased attention for Rollers Bakery. The bakery gained national recognition after Ryan Fox, a Kiwi golf champion, publicly praised it following his British Open victory in July. Fox, a regular customer for over a year, often visited the bakery to pick up a pie after landing at the airport.
The bakery even created a pie named after the golfer, known as the ‘Foxy’. This pie features a combination of steak, bacon jam, and cheese. Tait had previously described the attention from Fox’s shout-out as a welcome “winter boost” for the business, which saw queues extending out the door last month.
However, Tait believes the recent attempted break-in was a “very random, pointless attack” and unrelated to the bakery’s recent popularity. She suggested that the individual might have been “looking for a fight or just trying to cause damage.”
The co-owner expressed frustration, stating, “It sucks because we’re just kind of getting back to a little bit more normality and getting on top of our prep and stuff like that. So we were really looking forward to actually opening today.”
Looking Ahead
Following the Saturday closure, Rollers Bakery was set to remain closed for its usual Sunday-to-Tuesday period. The bakery has plans to reopen to customers on Wednesday, after addressing the damage from the attempted break-in.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by local businesses, even those enjoying a surge in popularity. The community’s response, however, has shown support for the bakery during this unexpected disruption.
Tait and her team are currently navigating the insurance process and organising repairs for the glass and doors, as stated in a social media post by the bakery.
Source: rnz.co.nz
