Youths attack shops in Radford's Jubilee Crescent

[dutchman]

Shops were raided in Radford last night as a gang of hooded youths went on the rampage.

Windows were smashed at the PDSA, BGBet.com and the Murco petrol station in Jubilee Crescent at about midnight last night.

Youths also got inside the PDSA charity shop where they pulled items off the shelves and rails, leaving a scene of devastation in their wake.

This morning shopkeepers began repairing the damage while local police officers visited businesses in the area.

[dutchman]

Radford traders tell of wrecking spree by youths

Hooded youths went on a wrecking spree in Coventry leaving a scene of devastation in their wake.



Just after midnight yesterday a gang of youths caused havoc in Jubilee Crescent, Radford, smashing windows and raiding shops.

Gang members, who had their faces covered with scarves, used bricks to smash windows at BGBet.com, the Murco garage car wash, the former Halifax building and the PDSA charity shop, where vandals also got inside and ransacked the store.

Sales and stock assistant Wendy Lucas was met with a scene of destruction as she arrived at work at the PDSA yesterday morning.

She said: “As I arrived I saw the windows had been boarded up. I was in shock – two windows were smashed. Then all the clothes rails were on the floor, it was a right mess with glass everywhere. We all rallied together to clean up.

“These people probably didn’t realise it was a charity shop, they just targeted us because we don’t have shutters. We’re scared about what tomorrow will bring.

“We’ll be coming to work as normal and we’ll be hoping for the best.”

The vandalism took place in the city shortly after rioters looted shops in the centre of Birmingham.

One Radford resident said: “My husband was downstairs watching television when he heard all of this crashing outside. Some of the neighbours were out.

“The gang had their faces covered with scarves and had their hoods up. We later heard the police cars arriving. I was scared because we didn’t know whether our windows or car would be hit next.”

Danny Kinlan, 44, of Whaleys Croft, Radford, told the Telegraph he saw the aftermath of vandalism in Radford and was told a gang of up to 40 youths were “screaming and howling”.

He said: “I went to the local shops to get some milk and I saw glass everywhere around Tesco. When I came out of the shop I saw a woman outside the PDSA shop next door who was very upset. She said ‘They’ve destroyed my shop’.”

Mr Kinlan said he’d been told that a gang of youths also targeted the petrol station before wheeling away metal bins to try and smash their way into other stores.

“He said he heard the first smash at ten to midnight and said it went on for half an hour before the police turned up,” Mr Kinlan added. “He said the youths were screaming and howling.”

Yesterday the clean up operation had begun at the shops affected. Glazer Dave Nettleton was called in to repair the damage before travelling to Birmingham to carry out similar work.