Vandals target Allen Street business
The incident was reported to the Newcastle SAPS merely half a block away. However, a case was not opened due to lack of substantial evidence.
Local businessman Carel van der Merwe received a ‘very colourful’ surprise on New Year’s Day.
According to Mr van der Merwe, he received a phone call from one of his customers at approximately 7am on January 1. Vandals had struck in the night, armed with spray paint and eggs.
The front door to his business on Allen Street had been defaced with various colours of spray paint and a few eggs for good measure.
“I wasn’t really upset,” he said. “I was more disappointed. I had to spend the entire day scrubbing and cleaning to remove the paint.”
Mr van der Merwe said sign boards with logos pertaining to his business had been targeted, obscured completely by the not so artistic spray painters.
“My business has been here for two years, and this is the first time something like this has happened,” he said.
The fact that Mr van der Merwe’s business was the only building that was defaced, suggested the vandals had specifically targeted him.
The incident was reported to the Newcastle SAPS merely half a block away. However, a case was not opened due to lack of substantial evidence.
“Surveillance cameras in and around my premises did not manage to capture anything,” said Mr van der Merwe. “I have a passion for what I do, and to me this is just like someone trying to take a dig at me.”
Despite the paint and eggs, he is grateful the damage to his property was not more severe.
