A sledgehammer and a small purple blowtorch rest at the scene of a break-in and arson attack in Collingwood.Credit:Paul Jeffers
When asked whether the attack was linked to the Saturday car fire,Groves said:“We are still speaking with that owner,and obviously the informants who had those incidents reported to them,to see if we can establish if it’s linked.”
Fire investigators arrived mid-morning and began speaking to nearby shopkeepers. Inspectors photographed the burnt-out front interior of the store,bagging evidence and detailing the scene,while passers-by watched on and trams trundled past.
Hannah Tang,the owner of a discount shop three doors down,said that crime and drunkenness had sometimes been a problem along the popular street,but this incident was out of the ordinary.
“We worry about the security of this area. It’s a big problem,actually. It usually happens when some people have drunk too much … But this one is the worst,” she said.
The inside of Sonsa Market after a suspicious fire overnight damaged the front part of the store.Credit:Paul Jeffers
“Sometimes they just rob something … but this one is so bad.”
Tang added the grocer was popular with locals,and the attack saddened her.