Police are investigating whether break-ins at cafes in Carrara and Helensvale are linked as they hunt a group of youths over at least one of the crimes.
Three masked youths smashed in the front window of the Black Lime Cafe in Carrara just before 4am on Tuesday morning.
The juveniles stole the cafe’s till and tip jar before fleeing, with the incident captured on CCTV.
The cafe was forced to remain closed on Tuesday as the damage was repaired, costing the owners thousands in lost takings while staff also missed out on wages.
Police are also looking into a similar break-in at Three Tree Frogs Cafe in Helensvale on Tuesday morning.
The cafe’s owner arrived for work early in the morning to find the window smashed in and the till stolen along with a mobile phone.
Police say investigations into both break-ins are continuing but are yet to establish any links between the two incidents.
