Ten teenagers arrested for repeated robbery of riot-hit newsagent

Hit again: Siva’s shop re-opening after being damaged and looted in the riots. Photograph: Tony Plett

Ten teenagers have been arrested following a string of robberies at a newsagent ransacked heavily in the 2011 riots.

Clarence Convenience Store in Lower Clapton was burgled a number of times in December 2014 and January 2015 by a “network” of 15-17 year-olds , according to police.

Yesterday (10 February), six males and four females were arrested in early morning raids as part of an investigation into a number of linked crimes, including the thefts at Clarence Convenience Store.

The newsagent, owned by Siva Kandiah, made headlines after its shelves were stripped bare during the Hackney riots in August 2011.

A local campaign, the Help Siva appeal, raised £20,000 to help restock his shop which was able to reopen two weeks later. Mr Kandiah later went on to win Independent Community Retailer of the Year Award.

Councillor Ian Rathbone, who was chair of the Help Siva appeal in 2011, said that the robberies were “distressing” for Mr Kandiah and for his loyal customers.

Cllr Rathbone said: “After having to close in 2011 during the disturbances, it would have been a great shame if he had to close again. But he was quite brave and decided to stick it out.”

At the time The National Federation of Retail Newsagents said they nominated Siva after attending the shop’s reopening and seeing firsthand the respect he has earned from the community.

Detective Constable Vicki Henderson, from Hackney Police, said: “The arrests are the culmination of an intelligence-led targeted operation to tackle robberies. We have arrested suspects from a developing criminal network who we believe to be responsible for a significant number of robberies in north and east London.”

Mr Kandiah told the Hackney Citizen he did not wish to comment.