A thief broke through the roof of a Hamilton cafe and made off with $100 from a charity box.

Outraged proprietor Lisabet Outerbridge said the break-in at Rock Island Coffee was discovered at 6.30am yesterday.

She said the thief entered the Reid Street premises overnight.

“I'm very upset about it. It feels crazy to walk in and find a hole in the roof. It's very sad for the charity but luckily for us, we don't keep money here.”

The thief took a donations box for a Ugandan orphanage, House of Hope. It contained approximately $100 in change. Ms Outerbridge said the burglar climbed into the rear of the cafe from Chancery Lane.

The thief unsuccessfully tried to pry open the back door and then made his way in through the roof.

“They couldn't get in. We had a ladder out back, and they used it to get up onto the roof. Then they used a mattock from the back to smash a hole in.

“It's an old building and they made a big hole, a good two feet in diameter, and they ripped through a rafter as well.”

Police were called and dusted the area for fingerprints the cafe opened at its usual time.

The hole in the roof was later repaired.

Ms Outerbridge said the cafe has been broken into before, but only through doors.

“I just don't understand what they'd think they could get here. We have nothing to steal but coffee.”