Australasian Biker News
Bombed but not budging
Standing firm ... Michelle Smith and her nine-month-old daughter Portia
in the Camden tattoo parlour she and her partner opened three months
ago.
Standing firm ... Michelle Smith and her nine-month-old daughter Portia
in the Camden tattoo parlour she and her partner opened three months
ago.
Photo: Adam Hollingworth
Caroline Marcus
March 2, 2008
MEET the young mum who is taking on the bikies.
Michelle Smith's tattoo shop has been firebombed three times in the
three months since it opened, and the 26-year-old businesswoman is fed
up.
She says the Camden parlour has been the target of bikie gangs, who hold
a monopoly on the tattooing industry and are intolerant of other
operators. It was set ablaze most recently on Tuesday, with police
called to the Murray Street shop at 4.55am.
Ms Smith and her partner, Robert Medley, received a threat before they
opened True Blue Tattooing on November 20 from someone saying the
business would be attacked within two weeks. It was firebombed seven
days later.
"We were told to make sure we would receive insurance," Ms Smith said.
"It was definitely bikie-related. Anyone who is not tied to the bikies
and tries to open a tattoo shop, they are attacked.
"It has happened before, but the owners don't stick around."
The shop was again bombed in the first week of December, and then most
recently last week. With damages adding up to $10,000 and a loss in
trade, the shop was forced to close for several weeks.
But the Oakdale mum says she refuses to give in, as the business has
been her long-time dream.
"A lot of people are just too scared of them and it is easier to pack up
and get out instead of fighting," she said.
"They are only as big as people make them to be."
But relatives are concerned for the safety of the young mother, who is
bringing up the couple's eight-month-old daughter, Portia, largely
alone, as Mr Medley, also 26, works night shifts in the mines and as a
competitive boxer.
Mr Medley's father, Merv, and uncle, Bob, have been keeping guard
overnight in the shop since last week's attack. The family say they have
received a negative response from police.
Bob Medley said the attitude from police was very concerning.
"We come from a clean-living, hardworking family," he said. "We are
respected in the community. We don't have any ties to the bikies."
Ms Smith said the community had been "very, very supportive", and the
family found it particularly encouraging because of the overwhelming
opposition to the parlour before it opened.
Camden Police Commander, Acting Superintendent Paul Albury, said there
had been a thorough investigation into the attacks.
"While these attacks appear to be designed to interfere with the
business operations, and not to destroy it or other businesses, we are
concerned that an innocent passerby or business owner could become a
victim," he said. "We are also concerned as the attacks appear to be
escalating."
He appealed for anyone with information on the arson attacks to contact
Camden Police or phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for
cash rewards if their information leads to a conviction.