Dagenham business could close after being targeted by youths
Ali Shaik, Hamida Bhuyia and Melon Sikder. from Bismillah Cash and Carry - Credit: Archant
Staff at a supermarket fear that they might have to shut up shop after claiming they are being targeted by groups of violent youths.
Smashed windows at next-door Chicks Chicken and Pizza - Credit: Archant
Ali Shaik, 31, says youngsters have stolen stock and attacked him and his family in his uncle’s shop, Bismillah Cash and Carry, in Goresbrook Road, Dagenham, on several occasions in the last 12 months.
On Sunday, some young people started knocking produce off the shelves while the window of next-door takeaway restaurant Chicks Chicken and Pizza was smashed.
“We just want to run a business but they keep attacking us,” said Mr Shaik, of Cranborne Road, Barking.
“If we say anything to them they just start fighting.
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How can we stay here if nobody helps us?”
“We’ve been here for a number of years but things have become much worse.”
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He claims about seven or eight young men aged between 16 and 18 years old came into the shop on Tuesday last week and started threatening his uncle, who called the police at about 8.45pm.
After Mr Shaik came down to the shop himself, he called police again just before 9.30pm but insists no officers visited that evening.
Although the shop usually opens until 10pm, the cash and carry has been closing up to two hours early in recent days, in a bid to avoid any trouble.
And Mr Shaik insists something will have to change or they may have to close.
“One time my uncle called me so I came down, and I took a picture of them [the youngsters] but then they started fighting,” he added “They punched and kicked me and my uncle, who ended up in hospital. We’re really scared about what they will do to us next. Something needs to be done or we can’t stay here much longer.”
The Met was unable to provide a comment before the Post went to press.
