Crystal Palace Local

A JEWELLERS was hit by 20 looters who drove up in three cars and Blockbuster Video trashed by hit-and-run criminal opportunists in the Upper Norwood Triangle area overnight.

Jeweller Darryll Norwood was woken at 2.15 am today (Tuesday) to say his Crystal Palace Jewellers premises at 76 Church Road was being broken into.

At Blockbuster Video one group of people tried to stop individuals who had begun congregating outside the store from breaking in. But eventually he and the others realised they were outnumbered and moved to the other side of Westow Street.

At Church Road one of the cars the looters used had been parked on the corner of Belvedere Road opposite when a police car, on its way from Charing Cross to the riots in Croydon, passed and stopped.

"Local residents told the police about the car and stayed with it until it was collected" said Darryll. "It seems some of our stock was in it but we don't know how much" he added Looters also left blood at the scene on a window and one of the cabinets.

One passer-by suspected of being involved was stopped. Police decided the passer-by had had nothing to do with the shop looting but held him on suspicion of possessing stolen credit cards.

Asked what he thought of the looters Darryll replied: "Scum. "It was planned; opportunists driving round looking for places to do - nothing to do with the riots."

At Blockbuster one observer, who asked not to be named, said "A whole bunch of guys were outside Blockbuster. "One guy was saying 'Don't make it any worse. Don't be aggressive. talk among yourselves, see what's happening'.

"As the numbers grew they weren't going to hang about. "The trader and the people with him crossed to the other side of the road. "The looters were walking away with stuff in Blockbuster Video bags."

Windows were also smashed at Streets Ahead estate agents on Westow Street and the former tractor shop premises in Church Road.
Updates to follow.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

UPDATE

TIMELINE
MONDAY EVENING

• 8pm: Sainsbury's shuts early. (Blockbuster had shut by 7,40pm, Sainsbury's already had its tobacco cabinets locked.)
• 9.20pm Reports of a group of 15 youths with faces covered going up Central Hill heading for the Triangle.
• 9.33pm: A load of kids kick in Blockbuster window, loot items and leg it. One eyewitness says they cannot have been more than 15 years old.
• 9.51pm A young girl on a bus in Beulah Hill yelling down her Blackberry she needs a phone. At All Saints she boards a 468 with male friends in hoodies for Croydon. "And off they skipped on the looters' express"
• 10.36pm A group of locals guard Blockbuster video. Pubs start to shut early.
• 10.40pm Hoodies reported on Ovett Close heading to Westow Street.
• 11.20pm The guardians of Blockbuster have gone and a group of looters are inside the video store helping themselves11.35pm Car outside Blockbuster loaded up with so much loot in piles so high "you can't see the thieves faces"

MIDNIGHT/TUESDAY MORNING

• Streatham Guardian reports: "Crystal Palace residents take a stand against looters" - first new report of the Blockbuster Guardians.
• 12.30am Police with dogs arrive - head for Sainsbury's
• 11.04 am Photo of two alleged looters on the Met police website.

More updates will follow later. Keep 'em peeled!