Staff threatened by machetes and thousands of dollars of damage, Tokyo Bay on Auckland's North Shore fell victim to a vicious break-in over the weekend.
An attack on Takapuna restaurant Tokyo Bay has raised concerns about the area’s safety, and the extremities offenders will go to during a break-in.
Tokyo Bay co-owner Mark Smith said that there was no motive that he was aware of before the attack. Smith has been told by police that this sort of event is quite rare for the Takapuna area, as opposed to areas like West Auckland, where it is more frequent.
CCTV footage from outside the restaurant has captured the assailants’ automobile driving past before the attack. Smith does not know whether the attack was premeditated or if it was a spontaneous act.
Despite causing over $10,000 in damages, all the assailants managed to escape with was a float containing no more than $400.
Smith said only he and the police had viewed the CCTV footage from inside the restaurant. He described the events that took place as numbing and awful to watch.
“We had staff in the wine cellar defending themselves with a chair and a step ladder while having a 50-inch machete pointed at them,” he said.
Other attackers were equipped with hammers and threatening physical violence.
Smith said there had been a huge outpouring of support from the Takapuna community following Sunday night’s events. Tokyo Bay, which has been in business for 10 years, has become one of the most popular restaurants in the area. Smith described the restaurant as approachable and affordable, while still offering an elevated dining experience. There had been no previous break-in attempts prior to the attack.
Although the police search for those responsible was still underway, Smith said he was confident they would be found. He said all assailants were dressed distinctively and would be easily identifiable.
In order to prevent any further attacks from happening, Smith said he would like to see improved lighting in the area. He said that he had spoken to the police and his local MP to see what could be done to protect the safety of the neighbourhood.
As customers had only left around 20 minutes beforehand, Smith said that frequent patrolling at that time of the evening should be considered.
More news here.
