Gift Zone, Riv offices broken into

Crime scene: Evidence of a fire can be seen at the Gift Zone shop on Hare St. Photo by Steve Huntley

Police are investigating after multiple businesses in the Echuca central business district were broken into overnight.

Police officers were at the scene on Wednesday morning, with police tape cordoning off Gift Zone on Hare St, with evidence of a fire visible.

The CFA responded to the incident and extinguished a fire. Local police and officers from the Bendigo Crime Scene Unit attended the scene later in the morning.

Smoke damage could be seen inside Gift Zone, while the back door of the new Riverine Herald office building showed signs of damage and the door of the old Riv office had evidence of forced entry.

Police said the break-in and fire were believed to have occurred about 1am on Wednesday, July 13. It is believed the fire at Gift Zone and the break-ins at The Riv offices are related.

Gift Zone sells a variety of items, including knick knacks.

Police said the investigation was ongoing.

Damaged: The boarded-up back door of one of the businesses that was broken into on Wednesday morning. Photo by Steve Huntley