60 windows smashed, $250k damage: Businesses shaken after alleged CBD hammer rampage
A Launceston cafe owner has described damage to dozens of shops in a CBD mall allegedly caused by a hammer-wielding woman as like a “bomb” had gone off – and said businesses now faced a long wait for repairs. DETAILS >
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A Launceston cafe owner has described damage to dozens of shops in a CBD mall allegedly caused by a hammer-wielding woman as like a “bomb” had gone off – and said businesses now faced a long wait for repairs.
A 32-year-old woman was arrested and charged with a large number of property damage offences after the alleged incident in Brisbane St Mall on Thursday evening.
She is alleged to have smashed the glass windows and doors of more than 25 businesses.
Owner of Coffee Republic, Robin Smith, said instances like this “ruined” the Launceston community, as well as the livelihoods of independent traders in the mall.
He said he had counted some 60 individual pieces of glass including windows and shop doors that had been broken, as well as a public telephone box.
“This is (like) a hurricane. This is a storm level of glass damage,” Mr Smith said.
“It looks like a fragmentation bomb has gone off.”
“ … We’ve had a few (windows) broken but never 25 stores before.”
Council workers arrived the next day to help sweep up the glass, with Launceston Mayor Danny Gibson also taking in the damage.
Mr Smith counted himself lucky that his cafe, which he has owned for 20 years, was not one of the businesses damaged, noting he had no glass windows and only a “very small” store.
He said the incident had “spoiled the streetscape”, and that the amount of glass that needed to be replaced was too much for local suppliers – saying he believed glass was being sent from Devonport to fill the orders.
“We recovered quite well after Covid, had a good summer, and to have this happen is very disappointing,” he said.
“We will be waiting two to three weeks to get all this glass replaced – and it doesn’t look good.”
He thanked the police officers for their response.
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