The Jempson’s local convenience store in Main Street, Northiam was subject to a ram-raid in the early hours of Thursday October 10.
At about 12:53am a light coloured four wheel drive car (shown above) was used to cause significant damage to the front of the store, before attempts were made (unsuccessfully) to steal a cash machine.
The perpetrators, believed to be four men all wearing hooded tops, baseball caps and gloves, fled the scene empty handed.
Stephen Jempson said “We are saddened by this attempted theft at our Northiam store, we would like to apologise again to our customers for the inconvenience caused following this incident and would like to thank them for the support and kind comments.”
He continued, “My thanks also to Lin, Claire and the team in their incredible efforts in getting the store re-open for our customers”. The store re-opened at 4:30pm the same day following an extensive clean-up operation.
Police enquiries are ongoing, and anyone with any information about the incident is urged to report it online or call 101, quoting serial 49 of 10/10.
[Editor’s note: Sussex Police believe the Northiam incident may be linked to another cash machine raid shortly after (around 2am) in Heathfield and say that possibly a Toyota Hilux pick-up was used in the Northiam raid.
In both raids false number plates were used, the men wore dark clothing with hoods or masks, and Land Rover Discovery vehicles may also have been involved.
Anyone with information about these incidents, or who may have relevant dash-cam or CCTV footage of suspicious vehicles, is asked to contact Sussex Police online or phone 101 quoting Operation Ebony – or they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by phoning 0800-555-111]