Kyabram Beauty Studio was one of three businesses hit during a window smashing spree overnight.
Photo by
Jemma Jones
The cost of doing business in Kyabram just went up for three local shops after overnight attacks left a trail of shattered glass and a repair bill totalling thousands.
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Workers at the Kyabram Beauty Studio, Knights and The Reject Shop arrived at their stores on Wednesday, December 17 to smashed windows and glass covering the floor.
By the afternoon, those windows were boarded up, with shop owners saying there was no clear time frame of when they would be able to be fixed.
The hole left by a suspected railway track ballast rock at Kyabram Beauty Studio.
Photo by
Jemma Jones
Kyabram Beauty Studio owner Tracey Trevaskis said the incident was “a nuisance” more than anything.
She was notified by workers from the neighbouring Kyabram Bakery at 7am about the damage, which she found was two strikes in her glass panels, one that left about a 12cm hole.
Ms Trevaskis said when she arrived there was glass on the floor along with a railway track ballast rock, which she suspects caused the gaping hole in the right window panel.
The Reject Shop on Allan St was another business hit overnight.
Photo by
Jemma Jones
Ms Trevaskis told the Free Press the damage would cost upwards of $4500 to repair, with the added burden of expected insurance premium increases following the incident.
This wasn't Ms Trevaskis' first experience with vandalism, echoing the frustration of Knight's owner Morris Gorman, who said he had become “used to” such incidents plaguing Kyabram businesses.
The Knight’s glass panel had to be boarded up from the inside, with Mr Gorman expecting he would not be able to get it fixed until the new year.
Reject Shop manager Bernadette Durso said the store was forced to close for the day while repairs were made to a “big gaping hole” in the shopfront, disrupting normal trading.
She said she was hoping the store could be reopened within a few days when the inside of the building had been secured, but wasn’t sure exactly when that would be.
Kyabram police Acting Senior Sergeant Paul Van Emmerick told the Free Press the investigation remained active, with officers working diligently to identify and apprehend those responsible.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV or dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au
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