Team at Busselton’s Rocky Ridge Brewing left ‘shocked’ after $5000 raised for co-worker battling cancer stolen

The team of a South West brewery have been left “shocked” and “angry” after a safe containing $5000 raised for a co-worker battling cancer was stolen. WA Police are investigating a break-in at Busselton’s Rocky Ridge Brewing which took place at 5am on July 7, which left the venue damaged alongside the theft. The money was raised for team member Mitch Dekkers who is battling synovial sarcoma with Rocky Ridge Brewing co-founder Hamish Coates saying the entire team had been left “shocked” and “angry” by the break in. “The team were pretty upset that somebody had the audacity to come in and do that, and particularly upset given that there was the fundraising cash for Mitch in the safe,” he said. “From our point of view, it’s more about Mitch.” The staff have raised more than $15,000 through several efforts to help support Mr Dekkers and his family during his treatment. “We’re just trying to appeal to the better nature of humans and hope that the people who brazenly stole it actually see fit to return that cash, because it was intended for Mitch and his family,” Mr Coates said. “We’re doing what we can and we will pay much of that money out of our own pocket anyway, and see if we can get it back in some way, shape or form. “The best case scenario is that person who stole it returns it, even if they do so anonymously.” Mr Coates said the incident had impacted much more than just the venue, with the whole community rattled by the brazen act. “It’s not like it’s going to some faceless corporation, at the end of the day, we are all local families. It’s a setback that none of us need,” he said “Ultimately, while there might bring some kind of short-term gain to whoever it is has taken it, the reality is that it has a longer term negative impact. “It means that we have to be more suspicious of everyone there and put in protocols that we don’t want to have to put in.” Bunbury Detectives are asking those who may have seen or heard suspicious activity in the vicinity of Marine Terrace and Geographe Bay Road between 5am and 6am on July 7 to contact investigators or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. They also ask nearby residents and businesses with CCTV or dash-cam footage to check any recordings from the same time.