Crime sweeps through Malmesbury (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Crime sweeps through Malmesbury

11:36am Tuesday 8th April 2008 in News By Lois Avery

A WAVE of crime and violence swept across Malmesbury this weekend just three days before a public meeting was due to be held to try and tackle anti- social behaviour.

Armed robbers targeted the Co-op store in the High Street on Sunday evening and several arrests have been made with more to follow.

Although it is not yet known if anyone was injured police confirmed that a firearm was involved in the robbery and a member of the public identified a get- away vehicle, which lead to the arrests being made.

In separate incidents on Saturday night three town centre stores were burgled.

Amanda's Cafe, Lumley's pet store and Peter Scott Book makers were targeted by theives.

PC Mark Levitt, of Wootton Bassett police said: "The three burglaries on Saturday night, Sunday morning, are potentially linked to each other but not to the incident at The Co-op.

"A number of arrests have been made from the Swindon area."

A 19-year-old male was issued with a fixed penalty fine of £80 on Saturday night following a public order offence outside The Guildhall pub and a 23-year-old woman has been charged with Actual Bodily Harm following an assault at The Kings Arms on Sunday.

Four arrests were also made on Friday night following a break in at the go-karting centre at Hullavington airfield.

A public meeting will go ahead on Wednesday from 5.45pm in The Kings Arms to discuss the possibility of getting CCTV and a Pubwatch and Shopwatch system.