Appeal following robbery at Horndean Co-op

Police are appealing for witnesses and information after a man wearing a balaclava and carrying a hammer, robbed a Co-op store in Horndean at the weekend.

The incident occurred at 9.50pm on Saturday, July 27, at the Catherington Lane store.

The suspect, who was carrying a claw hammer, entered the shop and demanded staff fill two shopping baskets with cigarettes. He then used the hammer to break the chain to a pink plastic charity box and stole that too.

He left the store with the baskets, turning left down Catherington Lane.

The suspect is described as being a white male, around 5’7” tall, of slim build, and aged around late 20s to early 30s. He was wearing a black balaclava, a green puffa jacket with a grey top underneath and white or grey trainers. He was also wearing blue or purple gloves.

Were you in the vicinity before or after this incident? Did you see anything suspicious? If you have any information or if you have CCTV or dash cam footage, please get in touch by calling 101 and quoting reference 44190264620.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting the same reference.