Vandals trash plumbing firm

A CITY business has been targeted in a £20,000 smashing spree by vandals – within days of opening.

Shop windows belonging to Postcode Plumbers in Mayfield Road were battered up to 15 times by what is believed to have been a hammer as vandals wreaked havoc on the newly launched premises in a midnight raid.

Glass panelling on the front door was also shattered in the attack, which took place at around 12.30am on Tuesday morning.

The plumbing firm relocated to the former Bank of Scotland building after 20 successful years in Lasswade but its owner, who did not wish to be identified, said he was clueless about what motivated the vandalism.

It is estimated the total cost of the damage caused could be as much as £20,000.

“It seems there’s no explanation and it seems to be the work of mindless thugs,” said the firm owner.

“I don’t have a clue who would have done this. We are a new business in the area and have been a family business for 20 years.

“We moved here because it is an affluent and residential area and we offer top-class plumbing, central heating and drainage services.

“This will have cost us a lot of money. We’ve just kitted the shop out and it looks immaculate but it will be business as usual and whoever did this will not deter us.”

The owner said he had received a call at 7am yesterday warning him that all his new shop front had been ruined.

He told how he was “shocked” when he saw the damage and had found shards of glass 15 feet away from the points of impact.

“It was 13mm toughened glass and will cost around £15,000 to 20,000 to replace,” he said.

Neighbours said loud banging could be heard for a short time at around 12.30am though nobody who spoke to the Evening News was able to identify the perpetrator.

The owner of an adjacent newsagent said they had been forced to install metal shutters on their windows and doors last year after their shop was burgled three times in a week.

Owner Yusas Kishwar said: “It’s a nice area but you have to be careful.

“In one week burglars took the panel off the bottom of the door and robbed the shop three times before we got shutters.”

A police spokesman said: “Police are investigating an incident of vandalism at a business premises on Mayfield Road.

“Anyone with information that can assist our inquiries should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131-311 3131.”

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