Five shops at Rutherford shopping centre have had their windows smashed over the past week including Rutherford Newsagency which was hit twice.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Panda House Chinese Restaurant, Lee Colton Barbers, SB'z Hair Studio and a tobacconist near Coles Supermarket were the other victims.
West Ward Councillor Henry Meskauskas said vandals are using bricks and shopping trolleys to cause the damage which is costing local retailers thousands of dollars and days of inconvenience in the lead up to Christmas. Cr Mekauskas believes the offences are occurring in the early hours of the morning.
"We desperately need more police patrols and CCTV is imperative," Cr Meskauskas said.
He said he has been copied in on an email along with police, Mayor Loretta Baker and some other councillors, from the developer of the former IGA supermarket site, who has expressed his concern at the amount of crime in the shopping centre precinct.
Port Stephens Hunter police officer in charge Inspector Rob Post said police were aware of the incidents and were patrolling the area in response.
Inspector Post said he spoke with the developer of the former IGA supermarket site on Wednesday and was hoping to meet with council soon to discuss options for the precinct.
