Chiswick "not safe to trade in"

Trail of destruction as vandal wreaks havoc on High Road

Gap for Kids on Chiswick High Road had to close for a day after a man went on the rampage on Sunday night. Three of the display windows of the store have been smashed with the cost of the damage likely to be significant. There were also a number of attacks on other premises that night.

A sign on the outside of the Gap store stated, "Due to vandalism this store will remain closed until it is safe to trade". However the store reopened on Tuesday with entry through the doors leading to Baby Gap.

Inspector Ged Boyer who is in charge of Chiswick police station told us " it would seem that a single person was responsible causing acts of wanton vandalism as he progressed along the High Road. The suspect is described as a white, male aged about 30 years, wearing a green top, with a beard and his hair in a pony tail. Police would welcome any information as to his identity."

Inspector Boyer said that his officers were delayed in responding to the attack as many officers were already dealing with a serious assault.

Reports also suggest that shops on Turnham Green were attacked and the Chiswick Village Taverna on Acton Lane was damaged in a separate burglary incident. Roxannes Pharmacy on the High Road is boarded up but this damage was not related to the other vandalism.

The attacks are likely to raise further calls for the installation of CCTV on Chiswick High Road. Chiswick is the only main shopping area in the Borough of Hounslow that does not have CCTV installed although police have been using mobile CCTV cameras on the High Road and Turnham Green Terrace after a spate of burglaries and petty vandalism.

November 8, 2003