In just two minutes, The Bradford Hotel lost close to $1500 in stock and a staff member was left shaken after a brazen booze theft on Friday night.
Police are still searching for a group of masked young people who stole alcohol from the pub's bottle shop, and licensee Neil Hedges said these types of crimes are "becoming a joke".
"We own The Rutherford Hotel as well and we've had theft up there by the same person [unrelated to the group of young people] ... three times this week," Mr Hedges said.
"The police have been good but their hands are tied. We've been very fortunate that the community has reached out to us and told us who these people are, but nothing seems to be getting done about them."
Officers were called to the hotel on the New England Highway on reports that several young people wearing head coverings had entered the shop and stolen grog from the Rutherford business.
Despite both Port Stephens Hunter Police District officers and the Dog Unit searching the area for the group of young people, no arrests have been made.
A crime scene has been established and police are continuing to make inquiries into the incident.
The Bradford Hotel general manager Alisha Stoddart said about seven people ran in from the motel car park area.
"One stood at the door while the other six ran in, and they just grabbed cartons of your RTD's (ready-to-drink) like hard-rateds, Bundaberg Rum, Jim Beam, we lost close to $1500 in stock last night in a matter of two minutes," Ms Stoddart said.
"They didn't have a weapon or anything, it's more they just run in, get out and when confronted, they just bunch up."
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After the robbery, police combed nearby streets searching for the offenders.
Mr Hedges said two of the people involved did not even hide their faces.
"I'm about to start naming and shaming them individually now, we're lucky the community has helped us," Mr Hedges said.
"They're no-hopers, they haven't got a future, and the parents should be disgusted in the way they've brought them up.
"They think they're invincible, but they're not."
Mr Hedges said the Rutherford community is "sick and tired" of people thinking they are above the law.
He said extra security is being put on at both venues to try to prevent further crime.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
