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Thieves raid Pershore supermarket

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RAIDERS made off with more than 2,500 packs of cigarettes and other stock after they smashed their way into a Pershore supermarket.

About 61 bottles of spirits, 46 joints of meat, DVDs worth about £400 and cash were taken during the break-in at the Co-op on Racecourse Road, before the thieves made of in a Vauxhall Movano Van belonging to the store.

They forced their way into the entrance of the store, causing £800 worth of damage, between 9pm on Wednesday, January 11 and 5am on Thursday, January 12.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward with information and have urged people not to buy any of the stolen items should they be offered them.

Detective Sergeant Christopher Percival said: "Obviously the items taken are popular consumables which will be easy for the offenders to sell on.

"If you are offered these products in unusual circumstances - on the street or in the pub perhaps - I urge you not to buy them and to let us know who is selling them on.

"In particular, we are keen to trace a vehicle belonging to the store which was stolen in the burglary. It is a Vauxhall Movano Van bearing the registration WV06 GPU although the plates may have been changed.

"We would like to hear from anyone who has noticed a Co-op van turn up in their neighbourhood which seems out of place, or saw one being driven away from the Pershore area between the times of the offence, so we can identify where this van has gone and who is responsible for the burglary."

A spokeswoman for The Co-operative said: "In the early hours of Thursday morning (January 12) at around 1am, a break in took place at our store on Racecourse Road, Pershore, and a quantity of cigarettes, alcohol and meat was stolen.

“Police are currently investigating, and as with any incident such as this, we would appeal for anyone with information to come forward."

Anyone with any information should call Det Sgt Christopher Percival on 0300 333 3000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.