Tobacco stores in Footscray and Hallam set alight in arson attacks
A molotov cocktail has been hurled into a Footscray tobacco store and an outlet in Hallam set alight in the latest attacks linked to the war for control of the state’s illicit tobacco trade.
Victoria
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A western suburbs tobacconist targeted for the second time this week was one of two smoke shops to be firebombed on Wednesday.
Lunar detectives have been told a molotov cocktail was hurled into a Paisley St shop in Footscray after the offenders smashed the front windows about 2.50am.
The Rizla Plus Gift Shop & Tobacconist remained cordoned off on Wednesday morning.
The shop’s steel bars across the front appeared to have kept the damage to a minimum.
Several smoke shops have opted for this sort of protection as security roller doors have been breached on several occasions.
The window was smashed and remnants of a small fire sat at the front of the shop.
Police are treating the firebombing as a targeted attack.
No one was inside the store at the time and the offenders fled the store in a vehicle.
A ute was also driven into the store on Monday night in what is believed to be an attempted burglary, the store’s owner claims.
It is understood both attacks were possibly meant for the tobacconist next door, who opened their shop as a hair salon but began trading tobacco, the owner said.
Later on Wednesday morning, fire crews were called to another smoke shop blaze at Spring Square in Hallam about 5.20am.
The offenders smashed the back window off the shop, poured an accelerant throughout and partially set it alight.
The rear of the Hallam store also suffered extensive damage in another targeted attack.
No one was inside at the time and the offenders fled before police arrived.
Arson chemists examined both ends of the shop on Wednesday while the area was cordoned off.
It was also the second attack on a tobacconist in the shopping hub within a week.
Last Wednesday, police were called to another smoke shop just metres away for an attempted burglary after a vehicle rammed the security roller door about 2.30am.
The offenders were unable to access the interior and left empty-handed.
Wednesday morning’s shop fires comes amid an increasingly tense period in Melbourne’s illicit smoke trade.
The reported $1m peace deal put in place weeks ago seems to have eroded, with more than a dozen smoke shops firebombed since May 11.
Police are urging anyone with information of Wednesday’s fires to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
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