Thieves caught on camera
UPDATE 4.30pm: BYRON Bay businessman Chris Wellington has provided CCTV footage clearly showing a young man stealing equipment from his shop.
The video footage shows two young men entering the shop about 10.10pm on December 3. One of them takes a wallet from the counter and both run from the shop.
Not long after, the pair return to the shop and the youth who stole the wallet is seen taking a laptop bag before straining to reach a mobile phone on the counter before fleeing with the items.
Mr Wellington has said the computer contained documents important to a court case he is preparing and that he needed it returned.
A BYRON Bay businessman says a security camera has captured the brazen teenagers who stole his wallet and computer equipment containing important files for an upcoming court case from his shop counter on Monday night.
Chris Wellington from Detox Central on Bay St, said he is going to approach high school principals across the North Coast with the pictures to see if the thieves can be recognised, although it's not known for sure if they were locals.
Mr Wellington turned his back for a brief moment to plug in a vacuum cleaner at 9pm when the thieves struck.
They first stole his brown leather wallet from the shop counter and then a second offender seconds later took an army green satchel containing a ASUS laptop, external hard drive, Virgin broadband internet stick, a Blackberry Torch mobile phone, and personal paperwork including his passport.
The video footage, from a camera installed in the ceiling corner of the store, indicates two teenagers were behind the thefts with a third person also seen running away with them after the incident.
The computer equipment contained video footage and hundreds of hours of research Mr Wellington had carried out for a court case early next year.
The only backup of the files Mr Wellington had was on the external hard drive that was also stolen.
"They (thieves) don't see the impact they have on people's lives. They don't give a damn," Mr Wellington said.
The footage which clearly identifies the alleged offenders, has been handed to Byron Bay police.
"If these photos are of you, return the goods immediately and no action will be taken. Otherwise the police will lay charges," Mr Wellington said.
If you can help identify the thieves, email Mr Wellington at earthsense@hotmail.com
