Break-in at UK comics distribution warehouse leads to delays for comic stores around the world

(Image credit: Diamond Comic Distributors)

Diamond Comic Distributors have informed retailers that the company's warehouse in the United Kingdom was ransacked over the weekend, affecting planned comics distribution to the comic stores who utilize Diamond as a distributor.

"I'm afraid that I have to report that the Diamond UK warehouse facility has been broken into over the weekend," reads a letter from the distributor to affected retailers sent Monday morning. "We've been working with the police and their forensics teams throughout the day but have been unable to access the building for most of the day.

"We are now in a position to start cleaning up the mess and devastation that the thieves left behind and are aiming to re-open the UK warehouse [Tuesday] morning."

Diamond UK's warehouse facility is located in Runcorn, Cheshire, England, and distributes comic books and other related products to UK, European, and other non-American comic shops.

Newsarama was unable to reach Diamond for more information on the alleged break-in, however the company's letter to retailers says that numerous pallets and boxes have been moved and they can't currently guarantee orders will be filled in their entirety this week.

Diamond intends to ship out this week's orders Tuesday (as they're able), for a planned Wednesday arrival - a day or two later than the usual delivery. Due to that, Diamond is asking UK retailers to hold these deliveries from going on sale until October 8 to even the playing field with other retailers who may receive it sooner than some.

Diamond says its UK warehouses intend to be able to receive all incoming shipments as planned this week, for next week's orders.

As for what this means to readers who buy comics from stores outside America? Expect a day or so delay in your store having comics as you'd normally expect them to. Newsarama recommends you contact your retailer individually for more information.

Chris Arrant covered comic book news for Newsarama from 2003 to 2022 (and as editor/senior editor from 2015 to 2022) and has also written for USA Today, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher's Weekly, Marvel Entertainment, TOKYOPOP, AdHouse Books, Cartoon Brew, Bleeding Cool, Comic Shop News, and CBR. He is the author of the book Modern: Masters Cliff Chiang, co-authored Art of Spider-Man Classic, and contributed to Dark Horse/Bedside Press' anthology Pros and (Comic) Cons. He has acted as a judge for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Harvey Awards, and the Stan Lee Awards. Chris is a member of the American Library Association's Graphic Novel & Comics Round Table. (He/him)