Credit card details stolen from iconic bar in string of Auckland burglaries

Thursday, 28 April 2022

Personal client details - including the credit card and contact information of people staying in accomodation - was stolen from The Shakespeare hotel and bar in Auckland, a month out from its 125th anniversary.

Private customer information, including credit card numbers and contact details were among the losses, during a “professional” burglary of an iconic Auckland bar, amid a string of burglaries across the district.

The Shakespeare Hotel, Restaurant and Bar was broken into in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Offenders trashed the office and left with a variety of items, including a hard-drive containing information from guests.

The information included check in and check out times, as well as phone numbers and customers’ financial details including credit card and account numbers.

Thieves also stole the security DVR and CCTV recording cameras, eliminating any chance of identifying who was behind the strike.

The Shakespeare was the target of a break-in early on Wednesday morning.

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Thieves stole the security DVR and CCTV recording cameras.

The Shakespeare owner, Sunny Kaushal, didn't reveal how many customers were affected. However, he did say the business has contacted all their hotel guests to inform them of what’s happened. He said the situation was concerning.

The only silver lining is that lockdowns and the red traffic light setting meant the 13-room hotel had not been fully booked for some time, meaning fewer guests were affected than might be the case under normal circumstances.

Police responded to multiple early-morning burglaries on Wednesday, which led to the arrest of four people.

“We’ve told guests that if anyone asks them about credit card details, they should be careful not to give them,” Kaushal told Stuff.

“We’ve had police here, so they conducted their investigation, and we’ve also put some things out on social media. But there are so many businesses in Auckland now, they're sick and tired of crime and having to deal with it.”

This comes only a month before the bar is due to celebrate its 125-year anniversary – the venue was established in 1898 in Auckland’s CBD.

It’s the second time the bar has been burgled, the first being almost exactly a year ago, when offenders stole $12,000 in cash. Kaushal said while police were alerted to the incident immediately, he only just received a phone call today confirming the case would be opened.

“This is why business trust in the authorities is so low – offenders know they can get around it,” he said.

The incident was one of several burglaries on Wednesday morning across Auckland. At least two other Auckland central businesses were targeted by offenders, as well as a south Auckland construction site.

Police responded at 1.45am to four offenders breaking into a Morningside business, offenders fled the scene when they arrived. A 47-year-old man was arrested and appeared in Auckland District Court later that day.

The three other offenders are still at large.

Police also arrested three young people after they attempted to break into a business in Mt Eden, about 3.15am that morning.

The youths fled police in a car which was followed by the Police Eagle helicopter, they were caught after ditching the vehicle following a high-speed venture on the southern motorway.

They were subsequently referred to youth aid.