05/08/2026
Today has broken us 💔☹️
A group of girls, who appeared to be around 12–13 years old, came into Gingerbreads Kingsmead and left with a number of items without paying. Our staff calmly approached them and asked them to pay, but they denied taking anything and walked away with the goods.
The hardest part? There was very little our staff could safely do. No one should be expected to put themselves at risk over a few stolen items.
Sadly, this isn’t the first time we’ve experienced theft, and we fear it won’t be the last. Many people don’t realise that what might seem like “just a few snacks” can have a huge impact on a small independent business.
As many of you already know, we’ve made the heartbreaking decision to close Gingerbreads Kingsmead. While this isn’t the single reason behind that decision, incidents like today’s are part of the reality that so many small businesses are facing. Constant losses, rising costs, and the emotional toll on our team all add up.
We don’t want this post to shame anyone hence why we have not posted pictures of the young girls involved. We want it to start a conversation.
💛 If you’re a parent or guardian, please speak to your children about the consequences of shoplifting and the effect it has on local businesses and the people behind them.
💛 If you’re a local business owner, we’d love to hear any ideas or measures that have helped you reduce theft.
💛 If you’re part of our community, please continue supporting independent businesses. Report suspicious behaviour where appropriate, look out for one another, and remember that every purchase helps keep local businesses alive.
Our café has always been about bringing people together. It’s heartbreaking that we’re ending our journey with another incident like this, but we hope sharing our experience encourages more awareness and support for independent businesses across our community.
Thank you to everyone who has stood by us over the years. Your kindness and support have meant the world to us. ❤️
