From the Waikato Times:

Racial link seen in repeat vandalism of gaming shop
By AARON LEAMAN
Saturday, 03 May 2008

The manager of a Hamilton gaming shop repeatedly hit by vandals says the attacks may be racially motivated.

Vagabond Games and Collectables located on a corner of Anglesea St and Bryce St has had windows, glass doors and signs smashed six times in the past 2 1/2 years.

The string of attacks has cost the shop’s owners more than $2000 in insurance excess.

The most recent attack happened last week when a glass panel was smashed with a brick.

The store sells gaming cards, models and role-play figurines, and hosts gaming sessions three or four nights a week. No merchandise has been stolen in the attacks.

Manager Patrick Ho said his customers many of whom are Asian or Indian were racially abused by drunken passers-by during late-night gaming sessions. He said the harassment and vandalism could be linked.

“At least twice a month there will be drunk people who come past the shop and see us playing games inside. They’ll start shouting and swearing at us and banging really hard on the windows,” Mr Ho said.

In the most serious attack, Mr Ho’s friend Ganesh Subramaniam was assaulted as he left the shop last month.

Mr Subramaniam, a junior doctor at Waikato Hospital, said he was inside the shop late at night when a man came to the glass door and started doing Nazi salutes and yelling “white power” slogans.

When Mr Subramaniam and Mr Ho later left the shop, the man appeared from a nearby car and started kicking Mr Subramaniam.

“The abuse does put me off hanging out at the shop,” Mr Subramaniam said. “I never would have expected the abuse to turn into physical assault.”

Mr Ho said another possible explanation for the continued harassment was that gaming was seen as “geeky”.

“People may harass us because they see us as geeky but that isn’t true. A lot of families enjoy playing board games, not just us.”

Mr Ho said he had no intention of moving to a different location because the inner-city store drew people walking to and from the nearby Hamilton Transport Centre.

Waikato police communications manager Andrew McAlley said “alcohol-fuelled” crime was endemic in Hamilton’s CBD and police aimed to have an increased presence in the area at night.