Co-op store targeted during break-in in Chandler's Ford

Police tape barred people from entering the Co-op store in Falkland Court on Tuesday morning as forensics photographed shards of glass that lined the entrance to the store.

Hampshire Constabulary confirmed alcohol had been stolen from the premises following a break-in during the early hours of the morning.

People were left shocked as they were unable to gain access to the store, as one resident said: “It's been my local shop for a couple of years and there's been a few incidents in that time.

“I hope nobody's hurt; it's the people I care about as there's good staff there. You don't want to see this kind of thing happening.”

READ MORE: Shop taped off by police following apparent break-in

A spokesperson for the Co-op said repair work would be carried out before the store reopened, with Hampshire police “carrying out extensive enquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.”

A force spokesperson said: “The incident is reported to have occurred at approximately 2.50am on Tuesday, April 29.

“During the incident, entry was forced to a side window and alcohol was subsequently stolen from within.

“Anyone with any information, including any footage, such as CCTV, dash cam or mobile phone, is asked to call 101 and quote incident number 44250184860.”

Only last month the same Co-op store in Chandler’s Ford was targeted during two separate break-ins.

One resident said the shop had been “trashed inside,” after a burglary that saw cigarettes, cash, and alcohol stolen from the scene – which came less than two weeks after a different break-in.

As far back as January the Falkland Road store was also victim to a theft that saw £270 worth of clothes stolen from the shop.

Speaking to the Echo following the series of break-ins, a nearby resident added: “It's at least the third time the Co-op has been broken into in about a month.

“It's awful, I don't know why people keep doing it because there's not a lot they can get away with.”