Detectives are connecting ram raids that took place at two south Norfolk shops in which cigarettes and alcohol were taken over the weekend .An investigation was launched after the break-ins at the Co-operative food store in Harleston town centre and the McColls Store in Hempnall in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Ram-raids at two south Norfolk shops in which cigarettes and alcohol were taken over the weekend are connected, say detectives.
An investigation was launched after the break-ins at the Co-operative food store in Harleston town centre and the McColls Store in Hempnall in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Norfolk police received a call at about 2am following reports of an alarm sounding at Market Place, Harleston, after a dark 4x4 vehicle smashed into the front shop.
Extensive damage was caused to the front doors and windows of the store as the burglars stole an unknown quantity of cigarettes and alcohol.
Police believe that three men were involved in the ram raid, loading the property into a grey Mitsubishi estate car reported stolen from Poringland, near Norwich, last week.
Two hours later, a delivery driver called police at 4.30am on Saturday to report that the front doors of McColls in The Street, Hempnall, had been smashed by burglars. A quantity of alcohol and cigarettes were also taken.
A Norfolk police spokesman said there was a possibility that the two incidents - 13 miles apart - were linked.
For villagers in Hempnall, the incident is the fourth break-in
in 18 months. Burglars forced their way through the store's double doors at about 4am on Saturday, April 11 and stole bottles of spirits and cigarettes.
Four men wearing balaclavas stole the shop's safe, cigarettes and electricity cards in December. The same village store suffered a similar incident in January last year when the front windows were smashed and two till drawers containing a quantity of cash were stolen.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Norwich CID on 0845 456 4567 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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