BUNGLING thieves left empty-handed after ram raiding a local post office and shop in Trowbridge in the early hours of Wednesday (January 11).
They threw a concrete block at the front window of the Diamond News store in St Thomas’ Road in the hope of stealing cash, tobacco, and alcohol.
But the local post office and convenience store doesn’t sell these items and the cash was locked securely in a safe bolted firmly to the floor.
A Wiltshire Police spokesperson said: “Officers are investigating after an attempted burglary at a post office in St Thomas Road, Trowbridge in the early hours of yesterday (11/01) morning.
“The break-in took place around 4-4.30am, although it’s not believed anything was taken on this occasion.
“Officers are carrying out house to house enquiries as they investigate what happened.”
Shop owner Kathy Wyllie, 65, who runs Diamond News with her husband Bill, 56, said: “I am just gutted. It’s sad that anyone could do this to us.
“Although they didn’t take anything, financially it’s a blow to the business. Normally, in these cases they are after cigarettes, booze and money.
“But we don’t sell tobacco and we don’t sell booze, and they could not get the money from the safe so they left with nothing.”
Mrs Wyllie revealed she had run 300 yards down the road to the shop in her nightie and dressing gown after being called at 4.15am by a security company saying the alarm had been activated.
“It was dark and there was no street lighting. I ran down the road and turned the corner and everything appeared okay so I went back home to bed.”
But at 4.40am, the police rang to say there had been a burglary, so she and Bill got dressed and went back to see what had happened.
“There were four officers and two police cars there but they would not allow us to go into the shop because of contaminating evidence.
“They ordered Rapid Security to come and board up the shop window which had been broken in the raid. Once Rapid Security arrived, the police left.
“Our paper boys started to arrive and we told them to go home on full pay and decided not to open.
“Later, we had a phone call from forensics at 10.45am. They were absolutely brilliant and quick.
“They allowed us to go back into the shop but told us to stand still and not to touch anything.
“They said the raid had all the signs of being conducted by a two-year-old. We have a broken door and a broken window to repair.”
Mrs Wyllie says they will also improve security at the shop, which was the scene of an armed robbery in March 2006.
Two teenagers, Matthew Saunders and Michael Noonan, then both aged 19, were sentenced at Swindon Crown Court to five years and four years in prison respectively for the hold-up.
They threatened staff with a metal bar and got away with £170 cash and a cheque but were quickly caught by Trowbridge Police within minutes.
To read the story, click here.
Since the raid, the couple have received lots of sympathy from their local customers and well-wishers.
“We have been here for about 18 years. It’s a lovely area and we have got lots of really nice customers.
“We’ve had lots of good wishes from people saying they are sorry for what has happened.”
If you saw anything suspicious, or have doorbell footage around that time, please contact police on 101 quoting reference number 54230003411. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Share