It was not the way two army veterans were hoping to start their new cafe business.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
At the end of last week - less than a week after opening - their Eat Me Drink Me cafe in Kaleen plaza was burgled, the culprits smashing through front glass and taking the cash register.
Insurance is likely to cover the costs, but it has presented a frustrating disruption for co-owner John Wellfare.
"I walked in, I didn't even notice it in the beginning to be honest," he said.
"I just went out towards our outside entrance to grab the milk water, and it wasn't until I got there that I realised the front window had been kicked in."
"After I saw that, I went back and checked out where the register was, and realised the register was gone."
Customers had been supportive, Mr Wellfare said, stopping to ask about the break-in and apologising.
"Everyone's been great, Kaleen's a really good neighbourhood, everyone feels like they're part of the community," he said.
Mr Wellfare and his business partner served in the military 10 years ago, and had been talking of opening the cafe together for some time.
Mr Wellfare said he simply hadn't realised the cafe would be a target.
"We didn't realise that people would really be interested in breaking into a cafe, it's not a grog shop or tobacconist," he said.
"It's just a frustration for us, we now have to organise to replace glass and get a register and that kind of thing."
Police and forensics were at the scene on the morning after the break-in he said.
The cafe was back up and running at the end of last week.
In March this year, another Belconnen cafe, Little Oink in Cook, was burgled twice in one week.
