A shop in an Oxfordshire town was forced to remain close following a break in last night.
The SPAR shop in Minster Lovell, near Witney, was unable to open today (11) morning after it was broken into overnight. The incident occurred between 1.15 and 1.30am.
A statement posted by the shop on social media this morning said, "We are afraid to report that we have been broken into overnight. If anyone who passed the store at around 1:15 to 1:30 this morning, you may have dashcam footage which would be very useful to the police.
"We are unable to open until further notice. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause."
Posting the CCTV footage later, store director Ian Lewis wrote on social media, "I have watched many videos over the past year or so showing retail crime. I guess I thought it would never happen in my store.
"Well. It did. Last night. We think the cash machine was the target but they couldn’t get to the hinges with the angle grinders so gave up. CCTV was cut before they left, but remarkably we think they left with absolutely nothing, not touching the cigarette gantry etc.
"Half a days trading lost. My parents very shaken (they live above the store) and I’m just about to leave for the day from being here since 2:30am."
It appears from the 2 minute-CCTV footage that there were four masked men who tried to break open multiple times.
Simon Hannah
