Shock following second ram raid attack in Lavenham in just three weeks

Residents have been left shocked after a second ram raid style attack in a west Suffolk village in just a few weeks.

An investigation is under way at the Co-op supermarket in Lavenham High Street this morning following an incident overnight.

Police officers were sent to the store at 12.15pm this morning having already been to the scene of another attempted ram raid at McColl’s in High Street, Trimley St Martin, near Felixstowe, at 11.30pm last night.

• Read more: Villagers react as ram raiders target Trimley St Martin store

A third has also been reported in Fordham near Newmarket.

Suffolk Constabulary believe that two attempted ram raid style attacks in Suffolk may be linked and are liaising with colleagues in Cambridgeshire about the Fordham incident.

• Read more: Police linking two overnight ram raids in Suffolk

People living and working in Lavenham have been left shocked by the latest incident which comes after a different store, the East of England Co-op, also in Lavenham High Street, was the target of a ram raid in which a Subaru vehicle was “reversed right through the middle” of the store on December 21.

Robert Burchi, who was out walking, said: “I used to think that I was living in a safe cocoon here in Lavenham but obviously I’m not. It seems that the village has become an easy target and especially the local Co-op stores. To have both of them hit within a couple of weeks of each other is a bit scary.”

At Cafe Ni Ni, owner Janine Deacon said: “It’s terrible and my garage has also been hit with power tools, a quad bike and push bikes stolen. I don’t know what the village is coming to and it’s a bit worrying in what is an affluent area.”

Andrew Sainsbury, who lives close to the store, said he heard a noise which he said resembled an angle grinder when he woke up just after midnight.

“But I thought it was someone having problems with their car breaking down at the time and never thought anything of it. But now I wish I had got out to see what was going on.”

Meanwhile, staff and customers at Solitaire, the hairdressing salon, said they were “shocked” by the raid.

“They look as if they tried to grind through the metal gates to get at the cash point,” said one of them while another said: “There’s been quite a few raids on homes in the area as well and it’s getting a bit worrying and we’re shocked by it all.”

And another shopper who wished to remain anonymous added: “I’m saddened and angry that something like this could happen here again.”

It is understood that four males forced their way into the Co-op in Lavenham using crowbars and sledgehammers.

They they tried to smash the cash machine open with the sledgehammers but failed.

The gang left in a black Mercedes which appeared to be in convoy with an Audi.

Police were called and arrived at the scene within a matter of minutes but the suspects had already fled.

Several police units searched the surrounding area but were unable to locate the vehicles or suspects.

Suffolk Constabulary said they are investigating the ram raids as a priority.