Durham’s Scratch Bakery burglarized in the night after a rock was thrown through the front door

Someone hurled a baseball-size rock through the front window of Durham's Scratch Bakery and took petty cash from the register Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, the bakery reported.

The rock was found Wednesday morning amid the shattered glass of the shop's roll-up garage door, delaying opening of Phoebe Lawless's acclaimed pastry shop and bakery by about an hour. Lawless said about $180 in cash was stolen, but other valuables, including equipment and liquor from the adjoining Lakewood restaurant, were not taken.

"It stinks, but it could have been worse," Lawless said. "It's not that exciting, they took $180 bucks and likely left soon after. It's an inconvenience."

Durham Police are investigating the break-in, but Lawless said she's been here before. Twice, the same shattered glass and petty cash theft happened at the original Scratch, which had a side door in an alley.

The Lakewood Scratch is a little tucked away from the busy Chapel Hill Road, but its garage door windows are much more prominent. This break-in was essentially through the front door.

Lawless said the morning bakers found the scene when they arrived at 5 a.m. Once the glass was swept up, the shop opened with only a slight delay.

Lawless is a multiple James Beard Award semifinalist, collecting national Outstanding Baker or Pastry Chef nominations in five of the last six years. She opened her original bake shop and cafe in downtown Durham eight years ago.

The Lakewood location, dubbed "Baby Scratch," opened last fall in Durham's former Davis Baking Co. building, next door to her first full service restaurant, The Lakewood.

After a few months of running two bakeries in two different parts of town, Lawless closed the original Scratch in February. It will soon become M Tempura, chef Michael Lee's next venture.

This story was originally published July 11, 2018 at 8:56 AM.