An Ipswich business owner has hit out at vandals behind a “mindless” attack on at least two independent shops overnight in Nacton Road, Ipswich, just months after damage in a previous burglary.
Staff at the Pink & Blue children’s and baby clothes store and the Jencare scooter and care centre arrived to work this morning to find the front windows of their properties damaged.
Pink & Blue owner Claire Naunton said she arrived to find police officers at the front door, who told her of the damage.
“I was only here three months ago and had a break in,” she said.
“I have only just fixed the front door, and it’s just mindless to be fair.
“The break in before he clearly wanted something because he spent 10 minutes trying to look for my safe key.
“This one he just seems to have walked along the street smashing windows, I don’t get it.”
Ms Naunton confirmed that they had not gained entry to the shop and nothing had been taken.
The latest vandalism is not believed to be linked to the break-in the store suffered in February.
Harry Martin, managing director of the Jencare scooter store just five units along from Pink & Blue, said his store had also suffered a smashed window, but nothing had been taken.
“It happened at about two o’clock in the morning and it was a random vandalism, police told me.
“We came in this morning and found the damage – obviously we were upset.
“We have been here a long time and it has happened before to other shops, not to ours. It’s quite worrying.”
Mr Martin said CCTV footage had been handed over to police.
The Tesco store, Kays grocery and a home-based business all along the same row of shops were also targeted.
The stores are now going through the insurance claim process, but remained open for business as usual yesterday.
Suffolk police said it received a call shortly after 1am to reports that a man was attempting to break into a business address in Nacton Road.
Police arrested a 27-year-old man on suspicion of criminal damage and going equipped, and took him to Martlesham police investigation centre.
He was understood to have been carrying tools to contract a burglary.
The 27-year-old currently remains in custody for questioning by officers.
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