news, local-news, harry potter, harry potter store, quizzic alley, fyshwick, ram raid

Harry Potter-themed store Quizzic Alley has been ram-raided overnight with the offending car stuck in the front door of the business for more than an hour. The incident at the Fyshwick-based store happened just after 6am on Monday. The offenders drove a gold-coloured Toyota into the front of the Pirie Street store, smashing the front door and damaging stock along with a knee-high brick wall. No one was injured in the incident, and no items were stolen. However, the car became stuck in the entrance, before the offenders fled the scene. The car was towed out of the building just before 8am. Multiple police officers remain at the store. The Harry Potter store was just one of several businesses across Canberra's south that were targeted in overnight ram-raids, in what police say were linked incidents. The first business was targeted about 5.10am at the Garran shops. An ACT police spokesman said the store was damaged in the incident and property was stolen from the store. Just 10 minutes later, a store at Hughes was ram-raided with items stolen. Three businesses were targeted at Fyshwick in quick succession about 6.10am. As well as Quizzic Alley, a second business on Pirie Street, Uneke Furniture, was also hit. WR Engineering on nearby Isa Street was also damaged in the ram-raids. The police spokesman said it was not clear what items were stolen from the other two Fyshwick stores. Quizzic Alley owner Michael Milton said he was devastated by the incident. "As a small business owner, we've only been trading for 18 months and times are tough at the moment," Mr Milton said. "This is just another hit for us, both financially and mentally." The store had been trading, despite many businesses in the Fyshwick area closing due to the impact of coronavirus. Mr Milton said the repair work would take some time. "We'll have a boarded-up door for a week or two," he said. "Given the nature of the store, a lot of window treatments and decorating will also have to happen over coming weeks. "We're trying to adapt to the current environment." Anyone with information has been urged to contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000. READ MORE:

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