Northside Chip Shop keeps frying after hammer attack

Staff believed they had been deliberately targeted, but defiantly reopened for lunch yesterday.

Managers Julie Thompson and Lucy Barlow said they believed that damage was not a case of mindless vandalism.

CCTV inside the shop at 12.08am on Sunday showed the damage taking place, but could not identify the perpetrator.

The total damage was 13 windows and the front door smashed, with just one pane of glass left intact.

Such was the violence of the attack that glass was found at the back of the shop, several feet away.

‘This wasn’t kids, it would have been more random,’ said Mrs Thompson.

‘The windows were not broken with a fist but with a hammer or crowbar.

The windows at HSBC and Guernsey Electricity next door have not been touched.

‘We are hoping that neighbouring businesses caught something on their CCTV.’

The fish and chip shop had only reopened its doors on Thursday, under new ownership.

Mrs Thompson said the damage and premeditated nature of the vandalism had left staff very upset.

‘We’d only just re-opened,’ she said.

‘I left here around 11.30pm on Saturday and got a call from police not long after it must have happened.

‘When I got back there were three or four police cars outside and everything was covered in glass, and I must admit I was in tears.’

Staff family and friends rallied round to help clear up.

‘We were there till six in the morning, mostly clearing up the glass. I want to say a big thank you to Kieran Saunders and Shane Wright, who came and boarded up the windows,’ Mrs Thompson added.

While the business has been closed in recent months, the premises has undergone a major refit, with new floor, fryers, counters and tills.

‘Luckily there is only minor damage inside,’ she said.

‘Probably the only thing that was not new were the windows. We have had to change the oil in the fryers because they were full of glass, but we were determined to reopen as soon as possible.

‘We are not going to let this stop us making a success of the business.’

The shop reopened for a steady stream of customers yesterday lunchtime.

‘I want to thank all our customers who have been wonderful,’ she said.

‘We have had some wonderful words of encouragement and we want everyone to know we are open as usual.’

Among those showing their support were Kevin Philp and Mike Lucus.

‘This is a terrible thing to have happened,’ said Mr Philp.

‘We run a business on the Bridge ourselves and came down especially to show our support. We don’t normally have fish and chips for lunch, but are happy to make an exception.’

Guernsey Police have been conducting CCTV inquiries in the area, which has included contacting neighbouring bank HSBC, which has CCTV for its cash machine. Enquiries are ongoing.

Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

n Anyone with information can contact the police on 222 222 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.