CROOKS stole cash and stock totalling £2,500 from a supermarket in an overnight raid.

Managers at the Co-op store in Wickford High Street have praised the quick response from Essex Police after the store was raided in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The alarm was activated at 3.14am and police officers were dispatched to the scene.

Mark Stringer, manager of the store, said three people appeared to be involved in the break-in.

He said: “We have lost about £1,000 worth of razors and £1,500 from the self-checkouts.

“They attempted to get into the cigarette gentry but couldn’t get in. There was damage to the main door and self-checkouts.

“They also took dishwasher tablets and a case of Lucozade. You couldn’t make it up.

“They didn’t even touch the bottles of spirits.

“I think they knew what they were doing. They targeted the self-checkouts, they broke two of them open and took the £10 and £20s out of the first and second one, but after the second they didn’t pick up the ones they took out of the first.”

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On social media, Mr Stringer thanked the police, adding: “Massive thank you to Essex Police for attending the store so promptly this morning after the break in - lovely to see the dog having a wander around my shop to try and catch the bad guys.

“May be some slight disruption this morning but we will be open as usual.”

Mr Stringer added that the store has been targeted by crooks 28 times in four years, and three time in the last three weeks.

An Essex Police spokesman confirmed the force was investigating.

They said: “Officers attended and found damage to a door.

“A quantity of cash and goods were reported to have been taken.

“Anyone who has information that could assist our enquiries is asked to call 101 quoting incident 90 of August 5.”

People can also call 101, visit essex.police.uk or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org/report-information-online.