RAIDERS armed with sledgehammer smashed through the wall of a popular electrical store and made off with a safe and a selection of mobile phones.

The burglars bludgeoned through the back of Currys PC World - which has a Carphone Warehouse concession area - after the store had shut on Saturday night.

Using the hammers they were able to make a hole roughly 2.5 ft wide to crawl through and get into the store.

Once inside the rear wall, they were able to smash down other internal walls and attempted to remove a large safe from building.

Fortunately, it was bolted to the floor but they were able to take a smaller safe which was on top of the bigger one.

The raiders were then able to find a set of keys which allowed them to access secure areas in the store.

As they got further inside the store they were able to use the hammers and bolt cutters on a cage which was stocked with mobile phones.

The thieves made off with a large amount of stock, including car phones which were being store in the containers.

Gazette:

Damage - the rear of the popular store was hammered

A spokesman for the Carphone Warehouse confirmed the incident had taken place at the store overnight on Saturday and urged anyone with information to contact police.

He said: “The investigation into this incident is ongoing and anyone with any further information should contact Essex Police.”

Stanway councillor Lesley Scott-Boutell (Lib Dem) said having large retailers in the village would mean there is a risk of targeted crime.

She said: “Stanway is a safe, low crime area, however, unfortunately, large retailers do suffer from opportunistic or planned thefts.”

Anyone with information should call Colchester police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.