Business owners at Elliot Stables are on edge after burglars broke in to steal the master key and returned the next night to rob individual eateries

Business owners in a central Auckland food village are on edge after burglars broke in overnight on Saturday to steal the master key and returned the next night to break into individual eateries.

Among the items stolen from Elliot Stables businesses were cash registers, security camera equipment, mobile phones and laptops.

A police spokesperson said that on Monday, April 29, police received a report that several businesses had been broken into at a food court overnight.

The Herald The businesses burglarized included Jungle 8, Luna Bakehouse, Bao Baby Bao, Koiya, Bonz Cajun Kitchen and Malaysian eatery Lepak.

Josephine Yo, co-owner of Lepak, said the food court was broken into for the first time on Saturday.

But it was only after checking the security cameras after the second break-in that it became known that the thieves had the master key in their possession.

“They stole our cash register, but there was no money in it,” Yo said.

“But because we know he has the master key, we are tense because the burglar could come back at any moment.”

The owner of Deniro Ristorante said he replaced his lock as a precaution.

Yolanda Chen, co-owner of Bao Baby Bao, said the burglars broke into the eatery’s storage room and left a mess behind.

“We are quite angry that management knew the master key was taken but did nothing to prevent the burglars from entering the next night,” Chen said.

There are 10 dining options at Elliot Stables.

The police spokesperson said police were investigating a burglary at a retail address on Elliot Street in the Auckland CBD.

“We are talking to the business owners to find out what was taken and our investigation is ongoing,” the spokesperson said.