Wolverhampton estate agent 'devastated' after vandal attack
The owner of an estate agents in Wolverhampton has said he is devastated after vandals set fire to his premises and smashed several windows.
Businessman Mohammed Aftab is appealing to the public for information after his Landlords Sales and Lettings Limited firm on Newhampton Road East was targeted twice within a week.
Five of the shop's front windows were smashed by bricks on May 4 about 6am. The windows had showed Labour Party posters from the inside of the office.
And just days later in the early hours of Monday morning between 12am and 4am the back of the building, which had been used as a committee room for the Labour Party in the run up to the General and Local Elections, was set alight.
Mr Aftab, who had agreed with the party to use his premises, said he could not be certain the vandalism were the results of a politically based attack.
This is not the first time the business has been targeted after arsonists were believed to have used petrol in an attempt to set fire to the building twelve months ago.
Mr Aftab, 46, said the fire could have cost the lives of a family who were living in the building had it spread.
He told the Express & Star: "I have been left devastated, shocked and shaken by the events.
"It is hard to think that there are people out there who have planned trying to burn the place down. Whoever has done this have put lives at risk and must not like us. I can't pinpoint who it could be or why this happened."
Mr Aftab, who has been the owner of the lettings and sales firm since February last year, is offering a £200 reward for anyone who can help.
"I want the public to help us so if they know of anyone who may have done this or saw anything suspicious then please let the police know."
