Material Things victim of 'mindless vandalism' after car intentionally rams into front entrance, causing major damage
Staff at a furniture shop were faced with horrendous scenes yesterday morning after a car had rammed into the store’s front entrance.
Material Things, in Fitzherbert Road, has been the target of ‘mindless’ vandalism after a car intentionally slammed into the shop in the early hours of Tuesday morning (September 2).
CCTV footage has captured a small car back up into the shop’s car park, where it adjusted its position before reversing into the store’s entrance, causing major damage.
Matt Gingell, sales director at Material Things, said: “They have put it in reverse, went straight into the doors and then driven off. It’s very odd as they haven’t even attempted to take anything and the car was so small you wouldn’t get anything in it anyway.
“Staff sent me pictures of it and I thought it was a wind up at first to be honest, I thought it must’ve been AI doing it, I just couldn’t believe it.
“We are going to have to board the front entrance up which isn’t going to look as nice. It’s really sad because there will be a massive disruption to the business in terms of getting the front fixed.”
The incident, which has been reported to the police, is the second time the shop has been targeted, with two luxury sofas, worth £5,000, pinched during a robbery back in 2021.
The break in saw thieves in a white transit van cut the locks of the door before fleeing - but Matt said yesterday’s damage is far worse.
The Farlington shop, which specialises in handmade furniture, will need new window panes, as well as a brand new automatic door system, which is expected to set the business back by thousands.
Matt added: “It’s so disheartening, it’s just so sad that someone has gone to that extreme to vandalise the shop - I don’t understand it, we are a high end furniture shop, it’s not like we are part of a mob - It’s hard to put into words, it is just so disappointing.
“It seems such a mindless and senseless act - they were just trying to cause chaos.”
The shop has assured its customers that it will continue to operate as usual while the work is completed, which is anticipated to last four weeks.