Williamstown Ice Cream & Frozen Yoghurt shop hit twice in 24 hours

A Williamstown ice creamery has been attacked again, less than 24 hours after hooded offenders were spotted firebombing the shop.

A Williamstown ice cream parlour has come under attack for the second night in a row.

A plate-glass window of the Nelson Place business, Williamstown Ice Crramery & Frozen Yoghurt, was shattered in early morning vandalism following a weekend firebombing.

There are no firefighters on scene Monday morning, indicating what happened was confined to the criminal damage.

It is unclear why the campaign is apparently being waged against the ice creamery’s operators.

The attack comes a day after the business was firebombed.

Police tape blocks the shop after it was targeted twice in 24 hours.

It was also attacked in October last year.

The attack comes just 24 hours after two hooded offenders hurled a molotov cocktail into the shopfront.

Firefighters and police were called to the scene about 2.20am on Sunday.

The fire was contained in under 10 minutes.

Police are treating the incident as suspicious.

A molotov cocktail was thrown at the front door of the Nelson Place ice cream shop on Sunday morning. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The door was damaged in the firebomb attack. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The shop owner, who did not want to be named, said crooks had failed at trying to break in to the ice creamery.

“You can see they’ve tried to break in the front but they haven’t been able to,” the man said.

This is the second time the ice creamery has been the targeted.

A similar incident happened on the October 21 last year.

“Last year the people got into the shop. They used a ladder and climbed in,” the owner said.

He said the support from locals had been incredible.

“I just want to put my arms around all of them and hug them, the owner said.

“We aren’t going to let this negativity stop us. I’m getting ready to open my doors this morning.”

The owner said he felt lucky the shop had better security and structures this time round.

“Last time the doors glass was original and brittle so the fire bombs smashed straight through,” he said.

The family bought the iconic Williamstown ice cream shop last year in April, but a week before the scheduled opening, it was firebombed.

“They never caught the people last time,” he said.

“We had a pop up around the corner to keep the business going. Now we’ve finally settled into the place again and this happens.”

“We’ve only been reopened for three weeks.”

Workers repairing a fire damaged door at the Williamstown ice creamery. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The blackened door after a molotov cocktail was thrown overnight. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

A former employee who saw the blackened door said they was shocked to see the rubble.

“I used to work there. I scooped ice cream for 20 years,” Lee Thurley said.

“I lived up top with the owner for 10 years.”

“Nothing ever happened the whole time I worked there. Its so sad to see this happen. It used to be my home.”

“Its such a shock... the second time too.”

“This targeted attack is disgusting. I hope they catch them.”

The front doors of the shop had framed inner glass windows.

A carpenter arrived to replace the blackened, broken door.

Young employees starting their shift were grabbing buckets and hot water, trying to scrub clean to soot of the ground before customers arrived.

A customer said she was “shocked” and “disgusted” when she heard the shop had been attacked.

Geraldine Lynch, from Ballarat, was the first customer served at 11.20am.

“I think its shocking. It always seemed like such a close community you wouldnt think people would want to hurt each other,” Ms Lynch said.

She said she always stops by the Nelson St ice creamery when she visits Williamstown.

“I was delighted when I saw the shop had reopened. We drove past last night and I thought I have to go there first thing,” she said.

“It make you scared to be in the community when this happens. It makes you feel unsafe.”

“Ice cream is a joyous thing.”