BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Bike shops up and down the country have been taking precautions against the continuing nights of rioting and looting.
Stores are closing early, often under police advice, in towns as widespread as Birmingham, Manchester and London.
Evans Cycles confirmed to BikeBiz this morning that its Deansgate, Manchester store was under attack from a group of looters last night.
The retailer told us: "There was a group of approximately 30 people attacking the store. The store suffered some smashed windows, but nothing more than that. The attackers did not gain access to the store and no stock was taken or damaged. Also none of our staff were in the store at the time."
Leisure Lakes informed BikeBiz this morning that none of its seven-strong chain has been affected so far. A spokesperson said: “So far we’re all ok. Wolverhampton had riot vans outside the shop yesterday and it closed early, but this was just a precaution. No damage has been done, as of yet at least.”
Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative’s Manchester branch was advised to close early last night, and the precaution appears to have helped as the shop didn’t suffer any damage, despite the city seeing ‘unprecedented violence‘.
Other bike shops targeted by the looters on previous nights include the likes of Halfords and Micycle.
This morning BikeBiz was handed insurance advice for shops affected by the looting.
More to follow.
Please let the BikeBiz team know about any more bike shops affected by the rioting in the comments below or by emailing Jonathon.Harker@intentmedia.co.uk or Mark.Sutton@intentmedia.co.uk.
