A village shop and post office was raided by sledgehammer-wielding burglars twice in one week.

Thieves smashed down the glass door of the Four Villages Store in Littlebourne at 11pm on Tuesday, April 30, fleeing with cigarettes and booze.

Managers Alka and Raj Patel managed to get the shop back in order. But they were dealt another devastating blow when the shop was targeted again just three days later in the early hours of Friday, May 3.

Cigarettes, alcohol and Lottery tickets were taken.

Robert Spencer, chairman of the Four Villages Post Office and Village Shop Association, the community group which owns the business, says everyone is upset by the raids.

“People love the village shop. It is a part of the community, so people are angry and saddened by what’s happened,” he said.

“It’s really gutting. In November, a lot of money was spent on refitting the shop.”

He says people rallied round to help but that it left Mrs Patel “in bits” and the shop needing extra security, including shutters on the doors.

"It is a part of the community, so people are angry and saddened by what’s happened...” Robert Spencer

“They will have lost a considerable amount,” he added. “We’re deeply upset by what’s happened.”

He says the culprits used sledgehammers in the separate incidents to break in and that CCTV has captured both sets of thieves - two on each night - in the act.

The store was one of three targeted in east Kent, including one in Deal and another in Cliftonville, on the Friday morning.

Police sergeant Jay Robinson says they are linking the three incidents and carrying out enquiries.

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“In the meantime we would urge any residents who witnessed anything and haven’t yet been in touch to call us,” he said.

“We believe there are at least two suspects responsible for these break ins and they were seen leaving the Deal store in a white car just after 3am,” he said.

The two suspects are described as white men. One was wearing a black jacket with a white logo on the side, blue jeans, brown boots and grey gloves.

The other was wearing a black baseball cap, bright red hooded top, black trousers, black trainers and grey gloves.

Call the police appeal line on 01843 222289, quoting reference 03-0049 for the Littlebourne burglary.

Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers in Kent, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

To get the latest updates in ongoing cases, police appeals and criminals put behind bars, click here.

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