Thieves strike twice

THIEVES caused more than 400 worth of damage by breaking into the same shop twice last weekend to steal just 30 worth of accessories.

The 9ft by 7ft laminated window at the front of the Chris Pelling motor accessories shop in Hailsham High Street was smashed by raiders in the early hours of Saturday morning. But instead of taking the expensive exhaust systems, bicycles or car parts, the crooks took a 10 set of domestic spotlights.

In the early hours of Sunday morning, thieves targeted the store again, smashing a side window and taking a 20 jump lead.

Proprietor Chris Pelling said: 'It will probably cost about 400 to replace the big front window alone. Hardly anything was taken, so we were very lucky in a way, but it's still very annoying.'

On Sunday, police arrived to see one of the possible offenders running off. He was blonde, in his mid-twenties, about 5ft 5in tall and wearing a white t-shirt.

On the Saturday, witnesses saw two youths near to the shop. Information to 0845 60 70 999.