|
|
 |
| |
Tomato ‘snipers’ attack shops
Store bosses’ misery over gang that steals vegetables before pelting their staff
AGGRESSIVE youths are terrorising Highbury traders by stealing tomatoes and onions and then pelting staff and passing cars with the vegetables.
Traders say it is a “miracle” that no one has been hurt in one of the gang’s rampages on the corner of Grosvenor Avenue and Wallace Road.
They lurk outside the shops before picking up their projectiles from the display racks outside.
One driver, whose car had been hit by the veg missiles last Thursday, was so irate that he slapped one of the youths around the head and chased him on to nearby railway tlines.
Mohamed Arafath, 28, (pictured) owner of the UK Supermarket, said: “These kids have got nothing to do so they come in here and nick my tomatoes and onions and throw the stuff at us while all the time swearing.
“We’ve narrowly escaped injury but there are tomato marks all over my counter from where they’ve hit.
“A box of tomatoes and onions takes all my profits for the day so it’s very frustrating.
“But these kids also steal from me – anything they want, they just take it.”
Mr Arafath added that the problem has escalated in the past three weeks.
He said the youths also pick “sniper spots” on the nearby Highbury Estate and lie in wait for cars.
But last Thursday the vegetable barrage proved too much for one motorist.
Mr Arafath said: “They were throwing vegetables and also eggs. This guy got out of his car and slapped one of them and then chased him on to the train tracks. The police were here the next day.
“I know that one of these kids has an Asbo and shouldn’t even be coming to the area.”
Other traders in the parade have suffered similar problems.
Hassan Erdur, 44, owner of Grosvenor Wines, said: “These kids just take the vegetables from outside and kick them into the road.
“It’s very stressful but if you say anything they threaten to break your windows.
“The police sometimes turn up in 10 minutes but it can take them up to an hour.”
Sergeant Graham Cushway, who heads the Mildmay Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said a new network of CCTV cameras was installed around Grosvenor Avenue on Monday.
He added that inquires to identify the youths are progressing and he hopes soon to “take the matter further”.
|
 |
| |
|
|
|
