Community supports cake store after devastating theft

GLENWOOD’S community showed its caring side last week when it rallied behind the owner of a popular home industry store after a robbery at the store on Thursday morning.

Patricia Swart, of Tasty Treats said she had come into the store from the bank with her husband, Conrad, after withdrawing money to pay the rent on the store, her home rent and her bakers. “Conrad left and a woman came in looking at my cupcakes. I was assisting her, when she got a phone call. She continued on the phone and another woman came in. They seemed to be together but the second woman sat on an ottoman and didn’t even look at the cakes,” she said.

“The woman got off the phone and said she had come from Montclair where the prices of cakes and cupcakes were too expensive, and had decided to try Glenwood. She said she was with her mother, but the one woman was in her late forties and the second in her late fifties. They started talking in Zulu and the second woman left. The younger woman was still looking around and left a few minutes later without buying anything,” she explained.

Pat had a strange feeling as the woman walked out. She realised one of the women had not locked the security gate and as she moved to close it she noticed her handbag was lying open on the counter. “I ran out shouting that they had robbed me but they quickly got into an old white Mercedes and drove off,” she said.

Pat, who says she is normally very observant, said the theft had been devastating. “I was caught completely unawares and feel so duped by these two. I was busy explaining to the one about the types of cupcakes we have and what we could do for her and she seemed very interested so I didn’t realise what the other woman was doing because she just seemed to sit there as if she was resting,” she said.

She explained that she had been on the verge of closing her doors two months ago because business wasn’t doing too well when her husband managed to get some contracts for handyman work during the day. The couple usually spend their nights baking their famous cupcakes.

“Nearly R14 000 was taken which amounted to the bakers’ salaries, our rent and utilities. I don’t know how badly this is going to set us back, but I am so grateful to the community for being here to rally behind me and support us. We received phone calls, texts, many came to visit and see if I was okay. We’ve also had so many customers come in purchase cakes and cupcakes. They really have been amazing,” she said.

News of the robbery spread on social media and dozens of community members voiced their disappointment at Pat’s loss. Many suggested the best way to help would be to go along and buy a cake and show their support.

Locals, Zara Lotz and Athalie So’er, who have been supporting the cake shop for years visited Pat at the store to make sure that she was alright. “We’ve heard there might be a syndicate working because there was another incident where a large sum of money was taken after someone withdrew money from an ATM in the Davenport area and the suspects were also described as middle aged women,”they said.

Daveena Brain, a regular visitor from Australia, who was at the store a short while after the robbery could not believe what had happened. “I love popping in here to get home baked goodies and was shocked that they would target a small local shop. Just going to the bank and returning you have to be so aware, this shows how vulnerable we are, despite the mix of lovely community members and businesses creating a village experience in Glenwood. It is very sad and disappointing,” she added.

Umbilo police are investigating the robbery.