While earlier this month three teens were arrested in connection to the Sony/PIAS warehouse fire that destroyed tens of thousands of CDs and vinyl records, newly leaked information is suggesting that the operation could have been a planned robbery cashing in on the mayhem of the London riots.
London's Telegraph newspaper [via The Daily Swarm] points to undisclosed sources within the security industry suggesting that the Sony/PIAS distribution warehouse was targeted by a professional gang who used the developing riots as the perfect cover for their robbery.
Reports have come in suggesting that men arrived at the scene of the crime with special cutting equipment, taking up to two hours disarming a security fence before making their way in. From there, it's said that a fleet of vans set up inside the grounds and were loaded up with stock. Security guards were on hand, but were said to be overwhelmed by the criminal activity.
Apparently, the gang then alerted a number of other criminal-minded individuals to come loot the premises in order to cover up their own tracks.
Until the actual footage pops up, it's hard to say whether or not this actually happened, but the suggestion that this was in part a massive robbery could mean that thousands of pieces of stock could potentially still exist out there. It's comforting, up until you realize that the theft still affects the indie labels distributed by the warehouse in a major way.
Sony has yet to comment, as the investigation is still underway.
Initial reports had five youths between the ages of 18 and 22 arrested in connection to the blaze. All have since been released on bail pending further inquiries.
London's Telegraph newspaper [via The Daily Swarm] points to undisclosed sources within the security industry suggesting that the Sony/PIAS distribution warehouse was targeted by a professional gang who used the developing riots as the perfect cover for their robbery.
Reports have come in suggesting that men arrived at the scene of the crime with special cutting equipment, taking up to two hours disarming a security fence before making their way in. From there, it's said that a fleet of vans set up inside the grounds and were loaded up with stock. Security guards were on hand, but were said to be overwhelmed by the criminal activity.
Apparently, the gang then alerted a number of other criminal-minded individuals to come loot the premises in order to cover up their own tracks.
Until the actual footage pops up, it's hard to say whether or not this actually happened, but the suggestion that this was in part a massive robbery could mean that thousands of pieces of stock could potentially still exist out there. It's comforting, up until you realize that the theft still affects the indie labels distributed by the warehouse in a major way.
Sony has yet to comment, as the investigation is still underway.
Initial reports had five youths between the ages of 18 and 22 arrested in connection to the blaze. All have since been released on bail pending further inquiries.
