Residents on a road in Sutton-in-Ashfield have said intrusions at their local Co-op happen "all the time" after yet another incident at the store. The Co-op, in Alfreton Road, had to be closed after a police incident in the early hours of the morning.
The store went on to confirm that two intruders entered the supermarket and smashed a front window. The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, March 12 and a picture circulating on social media appeared to show a front window of the store which had been smashed during the incident.
One man who lives nearby said it has happened "at least eight or nine times" since it opened. However, residents do not feel that antisocial behaviour is a serious problem in their area and that other than the intrusions at the Co-op the road is peaceful.
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Mick Constable, 28, who lives on the road, said: "It's not something that's disturbed me much but it is an ongoing issue. They seem to only target that Co-op but nothing else - I've not had any problems with antisocial behaviour.
"It's a quiet street to be fair but sometimes they do go for it. That Co-op's been open for about three or four years and it's been broken into at least eight or nine times.
"It happens all the time. I think the alcohol is near the front of the shop so maybe that's what they're going for."
Thomas Carter, 61, who also lives on the road, said: "Not this time but the last time it happened I was woken up in the night by all the shouting and these kids running away. The police came last time and cleared it up - it's an ongoing problem.
"I think they were trying to get bottles of beer from inside and that's why it keeps getting broken into. To be honest, I don't see antisocial behaviour as an issue, it's a quiet street but occasionally there's an issue over there but I rarely hear it."
New pictures of the front of the Co-op show two sides, presumably where windows used to be, boarded up.
Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I've only recently moved into the area but heard a lot of commotion on Saturday - it's a bit scary. I haven't had any issues in the area as this is a nice area but now I've been told that this happens all the time at the Co-op.
"I don't understand why they keep targeting the same place, surely they would have been caught? I wouldn't stop going to the Co-op but I wouldn't mind some more patrols outside of it if that's something that can be done, I don't know but it would stop it happening again."
Inspector Jon Hewitt, who leads the Ashfield neighbourhood policing team, said: “The force treats burglary with the utmost importance and our business crime team is working closely with the Co-Op to identify suspects. Burglary has a hugely negative impact on businesses of all sizes which is why Nottinghamshire Police is doing everything it can to tackle this issue.
“We are continuing to work hard to drive down burglaries, investigate reports and work closely with businesses and partners to prevent them from happening in the first place. This ongoing proactive work includes the force’s dedicated burglary teams, supported by wider force units, dedicated to reducing and preventing crime.”
Co-op has released a statement asking anyone who may have any information about what happened to contact Nottinghamshire Police. A spokesperson for Co-op confirmed: “There was an incident at our Sutton-in-Ashfield store in the early hours of Saturday morning when two intruders entered the store.
"We appeal for anyone who may have seen or heard anything to come forward to police, who are investigating. The store re-opened later the same morning to serve the community.”
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