The owners of a newsagent behind one of WA’s most famous lottery wins have brought the shutters down on their business, saying ongoing crime has left them with no other choice.
Tania Parkes has run City News Kalgoorlie, 550km east of Perth, for nine years with her husband Kevin.
The business closed on Saturday and is set to reopen in July under new ownership.
Stream your local 7NEWS free on 7plus >>
Parkes estimates they had been raided out of at least $15,000 worth of goods during their time running their beloved store, and said that escalating theft and anti-social behaviour had left them with few options, particularly with her husband out of action as he awaits back surgery.
“We’re not putting up with this anymore,” she told 7NEWS.com.au.
“It’s heartbreaking — we’ve put so much into our little shop.
“But it’s the only call we can make. I don’t feel safe here on my own.”
The final straw came on January 18 when Parkes confronted a woman who had walked out of the store with a bottle of soft drink without paying. Parkes said she had asked for the drink back but was instead struck in the face and a fight broke out.
The thief was charged and later pleaded guilty to stealing, criminal damage and common assault.
The incident unfolded during widespread blackouts caused when major infrastructure was wiped out by a “freak weather event” that tore through the region.
The temperature had soared beyond 40C on the day, and the husband and wife pair had bought a generator to power the newsagency’s fridges so they could supply drinks to customers.
“We are just fed up with the last six weeks of constant abuse, racial insults and theft and now this is just the icing on the cake,” the newsagent shared to followers on Facebook the following day (January 19).
With her husband nearing surgery to repair injuries sustained in a fall in December 2022, the couple will leave the town they grew up in and move to Perth, with Tania set to take up a role with her daughter’s business.
‘A lot of tears’
“Everyone’s so angry and devastated — they’re so upset for us,” she said of the Kalgoorlie community’s reaction.
“There’s been a lot of tears.”
City News Kalgoorlie was the toast of the region just two years ago when they sold one of two Division One-winning tickets for a $127 million Powerball jackpot.
The local syndicate was made up of 250 members, and each member pocketed about $250,000 each.
Source : 7news.com.au