Police have reported a slight rise in the number of break and enters in the town in recent weeks.

Muffins and More owner Ann-maree Mackley is “too scared” to enter her shop by the back entrance after three recent break-ins.

Ms Mackley was forced to stop trade for a day when she arrived at work to find the front door smashed and shards of glass scattered across the kitchen. 

Weeks earlier $500 was stolen from the till, double bolted doors had been destroyed and windows pried open.

”I owned this store previously for three years and during that time there was not one break-in,” Ms Mackley said.

“It worries me that they (criminals) are turning up in the middle of the night and doing this.” 

The spate of crimes has had significant emotional and economic consequences for the small business owner. 

Daylesford Health Food and Organics owner Donna Partyka said the store had been targeted twice by thieves.

“They broke the door both times – the cost of repair is $400 each,” Ms Partyka said.

“They go through everything.”

Ms Partyka said the break-ins had enormous implications for the small business. 

“Both times we had to shut for at least an hour,” Ms Partyka said.

“We don’t leave anything of value in the store – they stole $13.”

She said the store lost a great deal of money from not being able to serve coffee during the morning rush.

Daylesford Police Sergeant Barry Hills urged business owners to be vigilant about leaving valuables out of sight. 

He said police had attended to a slightly higher number of burglaries and car thefts in recent weeks than usual.

“There has been a small rise in burglaries in the CBD,” Sergeant Hills said.