Cigarettes stolen in Angmering Co-op burglary

The Co-op store, in The Square, was burgled at about 1.45am yesterday (Wednesday, April 13).

A Sussex police spokesman said: “The alarm was set off as the door had been forced, and a large quantity of cigarettes were stolen from the display counter.

“A black hatchback car was seen to reverse up to the door and four men then carried the property out and drove away.”

He added that police believed the burglary was connected to similar incidents at the Co-op stores in Roffey, on Tuesday, and Southwick, on March 16.

In 2009, the store was targeted by thieves four times in six months, with burglars getting onto the property and stealing large quantities of cigarettes on two of those occasions.

Last year, the shop was also targeted twice by sneak thieves who stole collection tins for the appeal to pay for a life-changing operation in America for little Sophie Nugent, who lives in the village.

And over the same two years, the shop was also forced to close following a fire and a chemical leak.

Anyone who saw what happened yesterday or who saw the car is asked to contact Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999 quoting serial 0074 of 13 April, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.