Cashpoint and children’s ride in The Crescent set on fire by vandals in early hours yesterday morning

Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 21 January 2022

AN ARSON ATTACK took place inside of Hinckley’s Crescent complex in the early hours yesterday morning – and Hinckley Police are now appealing for any information.

**Fire damage outside Costa and the fire-hit cashpoint (Image: Mason Moore)**

Shortly after 3.30am on Thursday morning (20 January), Hinckley Police officers received a report from the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS), after vandals had set an eco-friendly “kiddie ride” toy alight – and damaged a photo booth next to it.

The fire was subsequently extinguished by local firefighters.

The damaged machines have both been removed at the time of publication (21 January), however, visible black fire damage still remains on the brickwork.

As a result of the incident, the Costa Coffee branch next to it was temporarily forced to close its doors to customers yesterday, and some wooden boards have covered over damage near the windows.

**Fire damage on the walls near Costa (Image: Mason Moore)**

But, it has since re-opened its doors and has resumed serving up hot drinks as usual today, a Costa Coffee spokesperson has confirmed to the Hinckley Free Press.

The Costa spokesperson said: “We can confirm that there was a fire outside our Costa Coffee store in Hinckley in the early hours of Thursday morning and we are providing support to the police on this incident.

“We are pleased to say the store has re-opened today for members of the local community to grab their favourite, crafted Costa coffee.”

Cashpoint also hit by blaze

In addition to this, a cashpoint outside of the Coventry Building Society’s bank in the complex was also set on fire.

**Part of the plastic has melted after being hit by the blaze (Image: Mason Moore)**

A spokesperson for the banking firm has stressed that they are working on repairing the cashpoint straight away.

Zainab Kassam, branch manager at Coventry Building Society, said: “We’re working on getting our ATM repaired as soon as possible.

“In the meantime, our members can still withdraw money from their Coventry Building Society accounts in our branch.

“There are other ATMs nearby at the Sainsbury’s in The Crescent and also in Market Place, so hopefully shoppers in Hinckley won’t have too much disruption while we fix the machine.”

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council raised the alarm with officers from the local police over the incident.

Appeal for information over arson-hit ride

Officers are now appealing for anybody with details about the arson-hit kids’ ride and damaged photobooth to come forward, so they can identify those responsible.

Details can be passed on to the police through their non-emergency number of 101, quoting reference 22*036762.

Alternatively, the incident can be reported through the Leicestershire Police website.