By Jennifer Cosgrove

A DUNDEE shop owner who last night had the window of his Douglas shop smashed in said that local youths have been threatening to vandalise the premises for weeks.

Mohammed Adrees, of Supersmart Convenience Store in Balluniefield Road, told The Courier that since opening the newly- refurbished shop around six weeks ago, youngsters have been demanding he sells them alcohol and cigarettes, or else they would break his windows.

At around 8pm last night, while Mr Adrees was in another of his shops in the Hilltown, he received a call from a worried member of staff telling him that a group of youths had been throwing stones at the window of the Supersmart store.

Mr Adrees explained, “I spent around £60,000 getting this place done up so that people in the area could have a pleasant shop to visit.

“Not long after we opened a group of youths aged around 15 or 16 began coming into the store every night, telling me they wanted to buy cigarettes.”

He went on, “I told them right away that I wasn’t able to sell cigarettes to anybody under 18, or I would be breaking the law.

“However, they wouldn’t accept this, and so they continued to come in—and even began asking for drink. That’s when they told me that they’d smash my windows if I didn’t co-operate.”

Despite Mr Adrees warning police of these continuing threats, it was only a matter of time before they were realised, and the youths threw a number stones, shattering a large pane of glass outside the store.

He added, “I understand the police have a lot of problems round here, but I am going to need more help from them if we are going to change things in the area.

“We need more police on the beat.”

Tayside Police are investigating the incident.