We were devastated when we first heard that the UK warehouse for independent label distributor PIAS and Sony was burned to the ground and looted during the London riots. While we were happy to hear that two people were arrested, the case has taken a turn for the weird.
According to The Telegraph, new evidence is showing that the looting and arson was actually carefully planned by professionals, using the riots as a cover. Apparently, sources close to the security industry have disclosed that the intruders used specialist cutting equipment and spent up to two hours dismantling a high security fence before breaking in. Security also claimed to have seen vans inside the premises used to load the stolen goods. To further cover their tracks, the professionals supposedly attracted other gangs to join in on the looting after they left. Both the Metropolitan Police and Sony reportedly declined to comment on these new details.
It was sad enough to hear that the three-story building was completely gutted of CDs and vinyl (from independent labels, nonetheless) and burned to the ground. But it’s extra depressing to hear that a group of people purposefully used an already unfortunate situation just to steal from labels. Sad anyway you look at it.
