MOTORBIKE riding raiders smashed into a department store and stole a selection of “high value” designer handbags.

Police are appealing for information after the burglary at Fenwick in Colchester High Street.

Two people on motorbikes smashed the front window of the popular department store at roughly 3.30am yesterday.

Gazette: On guard - police outside Fenwick following the raid

They then grabbed 25 Mulberry, one DKNY and two Hill and Friends handbags before fleeing on the bikes. 

Police believe the pair used a sledgehammer to get into the store.

A section of the High Street outside the store was cordoned off for much of yesterday following the incident in the early hours of the morning.

Police officers and forensic specialists were on the scene where glass doors to one of the entrances had been completely destroyed by the burglars.

Despite the damage to the building, the store was able to open as usual yesterday morning for customers and continued to trade throughout the day.

Managing director Carl Milton said he was glad nobody had suffered injuries in the raid.

He said: “The police are currently investigating and obviously the most important thing is that no one got hurt.

“We opened as usual the next morning and are trading as normal.”

Officers have asked anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage to contact Colchester CID on 101 quoting incident 79 of April 17.

Details can also be given to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.