Table thief targets Stoke cafe

A popular cafe in Stoke is a table down after one was stolen last week, with the owner saying it’s not the first time they have been targeted.

Greenmeadows Cafe had one of their wooden outdoor tables pinched last Tuesday night.

They own six tables, but that number has now dwindled to five.

“We’ve recently refurbished a couple of our tables, and one was needing repairs, so we put it around the back,” says owner Lynley Gilchrist.

Lynley believes the table, in its more secluded location, was scoped out early last week with the thief returning to take the table with a sack barrow. The bench seats were not stolen.

There is CCTV around the building and investigations are still continuing with the police, she says.

Lynley says the cafe has been struck by vandals several times before.

“We’ve had people damage our tables in the past, moved them around or flick them over – I’m just tired of it. I’ve already had enough, and this is one more thing we just don’t need.

“We’ve just had them fixed… and now one is missing. The place they are from has now closed down. We have had suggestions to bolt them down, but we can’t do that.”

Lynley says the silver lining in the theft is just how caring the Stoke community is.
“People have been really supportive; they really try to help us out.”

If you have any information about the missing table, please contact the cafe on (03) 265 6514 or message them via their Facebook page.