Two men attempted to break into a barbershop in Auckland’s Mt Eden neighborhood early Tuesday morning, but their efforts were unsuccessful, leaving the shop’s co-owner puzzled over the motive behind the attack.

Around 6 a.m., the men, wearing balaclavas and armed with crowbars, repeatedly struck the toughened glass storefront of Tareks Barbershop on Dominion Road. Video footage shows them smashing the windows before fleeing the scene without gaining entry. Nicollette Tarek, who co-owns the business with her husband, described the incident as both “funny but heartbreaking,” noting that the shop’s most valuable items, such as the barber chairs, are too heavy to steal.

Tarek said she was at a loss to explain why the shop was targeted, emphasizing that the couple, who have operated from this location for six years, have faced other challenges including a car crashing into the premises, previous break-in attempts, and even someone defecating outside the shop. Despite these incidents, she voiced a strong connection to the local community and highlighted the couple’s efforts to support it by donating to nearby primary schools and providing free haircuts to those in need.

“We’re dumbfounded. Absolutely got no clue,” Tarek said, reflecting the owners’ frustration and sadness over the damage caused to what she referred to as their “own baby.” She added that the couple had built their business “from nothing” and take pride in their work, making the wilful damage particularly disheartening.

The damage to the glass is estimated to cost between NZ$6,000 and NZ$7,000 to repair. Despite this, Tarek tried to find some humor in the situation, commenting that the intruders “actually should go to the gym because they couldn’t even break a glass window with a crowbar.”

Police confirmed they received a report of wilful damage to the property and are conducting inquiries to identify and locate those responsible. No arrests have yet been made.