An Auckland restaurant owner says crime in the inner city could dash any hope of his business recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Besos Latinos Restaurante's Luis Cabrera says one of his wait staff was mugged on her way home on Friday.

He's already facing staff shortages and other challenges due to Covid, and couldn't open yesterday after she became too scared to come to work.

Cabrera says his restaurant has been smashed into three times with liquor, a computer and till stolen.

He says just when you think things can't get any worse; something else happens that makes you wonder if you'll be able to survive.

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