Cigarette thefts across Wiltshire – Police appeal for witnesses

Police are appealing for information following a series of early morning burglaries in shops and petrol stations across Wiltshire.

Over the past three months there have been a number of separate but similar incidents involving a group of four or five men breaking into stores and stealing thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes.

The offenders, who are all believed to be white men, wear balaclavas or scarves covering their faces and dark gloves.  The vehicles used by the group are all thought to be stolen.

The first incident happened at approximately 1.24am on Sunday 30 November 2014 at Woodborough Social Club in Pewsey.  During this incident the men cut through a barbed wire fence and used a crowbar to open the front door.  The group left with chocolate and cigarettes.  Two vehicles were used, one of which was a Vauxhall Corsa.

At approximately 2.37am on Monday 1 December last year the Co-op in Oxford Street, Aldbourne was attacked.  Thieves broke the locks on the main door and once inside filled large builders bags with cigarettes.  The first man was wearing a blue hooded top and black jacket, blue Adidas tracksuit bottoms with white stripes and black gloves.  The second man was wearing a black balaclava and black jacket with red hooded top underneath, dark Adidas tracksuit bottoms with red stripes, black gloves and trainers.  The third man was also wearing a black balaclava and gloves, a green bomber jacket, camouflage trousers and boots.  The fourth man was wearing a black hooded top under a green wax jacket, a black scarf, bright green gloves and blue trousers.

On the same night a bit later at 3.47am, raiders broke into the  Co-op in The Borough, Downton by smashing the front door.  Once inside, they filled a Jewson builders bag with cigarettes.  The first man was wearing dark clothing.  The second man was wearing a hooded blue and light grey jacket, dark tracksuit bottoms with a white stripe on each side, a balaclava and dark trainers. He was carrying what is believed to be a spade.  The third man was tall, wearing a dark green hooded jacket, dark bottoms, wellies with buckles on the side and a balaclava.  He was carrying a blue builders sack.

At 12.21am on Friday 5 December, thieves broke the metal shutters at Budgens in Hertford Road, Marlborough.  Once inside, they filled builders rubble sacks with cigarettes.  Shortly before, at approximately 12.15am a dark coloured Audi convertible was seen on the forecourt of the garage.  Three men got out of the vehicle and broke into the store.

The Aldbourne Co-op was again attacked on Monday 5 January at 12.40am.  Once inside the robbers stole a large quantity of cigarettes and then left the scene at speed in a black vehicle, believed to be an Audi.

Later in January on Monday 26, at approximately 1.30am, McColls in Wroughton was burgled.  In this attack Police believe four to six men were involved.  They were all wearing dark clothing, and one of the offenders was wearing a tiger head hat.  They spent approximately five minutes inside the store and filled a large brown bag with cigarettes.  Alcohol was also taken.  A silver car was seen near the store window.

Give days later at approximately 11.39pm on Saturday 31 January 2015 the Shell filling station and shop at the Countess Services in Amesbury was raided.  A vehicle, believed to be a dark grey Mercedes C Class arrived on the forecourt from the A303 westbound carriageway, with five people inside.  The thieves gained entry to the store through the front door and once inside removed a large quantity of cigarettes and tobacco, as well as a safe – which has since been recovered.

The Spar in Collingbourne Ducis Spar was next – raided a day later at approximately 12.30am on Monday 2 February. A gain, a large number of cigarettes were stolen from behind the shop counter.  Three men, all with hoods up, one carrying an umbrella and one wearing a light coloured body-warmer, were spotted carrying white builders bags and leaving the scene in a hatchback vehicle in the direction of Marlborough.

CCTV images are attached of men and a vehicle police would like further information on in connection with these incidents.

Kev Golledge, of Melksham CID, told Marlborough News Online: “Since November we have had a number of very similar incidents at shops and petrol stations across the county.  All incidents have happened in the early hours of the morning, and usually involves a group of approximately four to five men, wearing balaclavas or scarves to cover their faces.

“The group has spent no more than five minutes in each store, and a large quantity of cigarettes has been stolen from each store.

“We are aware that similar incidents have been reported in neighbouring forces, including Thames Valley, Hampshire and Avon & Somerset.  The vehicles used, often Mercedes or Audi’s, are believed to have been stolen.

“We would urge shopkeepers to be mindful about the amount of cigarettes they leave in-store overnight.  We are also appealing for anyone who has any information on any of these incidents to contact us immediately via 101.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101.  Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously if preferred.