Sex shop with ‘UK’s largest selection of dildos’ attacked by motorbike thugs
CCTV footage captured the moment masked thugs on motorbikes smashed the windows of an adult store in Manchester’s Gay Village.
Three such attacks have happened in the space of just six weeks.
While the Greater Manchester Police are unable to confirm the motivation for the incidents, it is understood that they are treating them as hate crimes.
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The store, known to have "UK's largest selection of dildos", released an emotional statement, calling the attacks "premeditated" and a "targeted hate crime" against the business, reports Manchester Evening News.
The attacks took place at the Clonezone store on Sackville Street.
It is also understood that police believe it is the same two offenders that have targeted the adult store on every occasion – but that there is no intelligence at this time to suggest why Clonezone was specifically targeted.
The first attack happened on the evening of March 22. Staff, who have been left "shaken up" from the ordeal, were inside and working in the store.
Bricks were hurled through the windows by the thugs, who sped off from the scene on a motorbike.
It prompted the venue to issue an emotional public statement writing: “Windows can be broken but the LGBTQIA+ community cannot.”
The second incident was caught on camera again weeks later, on April 13. Similar to the first attack, two masked individuals pulled up outside on a motorbike before then going on to smash the glass door with a weapon before driving away.
Following the second attack, police were able to trace the motorbike used by the offenders to the north Manchester area through CCTV footage. However, no suspects have been questioned and no arrests have been made yet.
General Manager of Clonezone Richard Tropez also installed additional CCTV cameras at the store, new shutters and also hired security from 7pm onwards.
Despite this, on April 24, two masked thugs pulled up outside minutes before 6pm, with one person seen running over to the store front and smashing up the windows with a crowbar before speeding off in the direction of London Road.
A police car was pictured outside at the time of the attack, but it is understood the vehicle was unmanned at the time.
"It is the third time this has happened and it's massively affecting the mental health of staff in store. I have a responsibility over those people, but I do not feel confident I can keep protecting them," the owner said.
"After the second attack happened, we had window replaced again and introduced additional CCTV and shutters for when we are closed, along with security from 7pm onwards. But yet at 6pm, in broad daylight and with a police car parked outside, it still happened.”
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