Arson attack on shop (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Arson attack on shop

10:05am Tuesday 14th March 2006 in Devizes By Lewis Cowen

THE manager of the One Stop shop in Eastleigh Road has condemned as stupidity an arson attempt on the store on Sunday evening.

Shortly after 9pm two youths, thought to be 15 or 16, were seen to throw a lighted match in through the doorway. The two members of staff managed to stamp out the flames and there was only slight damage to the entrance mat.

But Barbara Roberts, the shop manager, said: "It was such a stupid thing to do. It could have been so much worse.

"If they can do it to me, they can do it to some poor old lady in her home. It is not so much the damage but the fear among my staff that it causes.

"This is the second time they have made an arson attempt on the shop. Two weeks ago they filled a tennis ball with matches and threw that in through the door.

"But this time, although there were no customers in the shop, there was a customer outside who witnessed it. We have also got them on CCTV camera."

Police are appealing for witnesses to the attack and can be contacted on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.