Pictures: Ram-raiders botch bid to smash their way into Bridgnorth Spar
[gallery] Ram-raiders fled empty-handed after trying to break into a Bridgnorth convenience store in the early hours of this morning.
Their vehicle was damaged when they reversed it into the shutters at the Spar Store in Salop Street at around 1.45am.
Nigel Shorthouse, 58, who owns the premises, said he was on site at 2am after receiving calls at his home from people who lived near the store.
He said: "I live at Woundale, which is about four miles from Bridgnorth, and had five calls from neighbours near the shop at around 1.50am saying the alarm was going off and there was a lot of banging.
"It didn't take me long to get here and by the time I did there were three police cars already onsite.
"From what we saw on the CCTV footage four men arrived by car and tried to get into the store with crow bars. When that didn't work, one of the men reversed the car into both of the shop's security shutters in an attempt to gain entry.
"After that also failed they gave up and left and I think they weren't here for more than four minutes."
Mr Shorthouse, whose daughter Dani manages the shop, said that he has owned it for four-and-a-half years and this was the first time anything like this had happened.
He said: "The police were here until about 3.30am, taking statements and going through the CCTV footage.
"Unfortunately all the men wore hats, had collars turned up or had hoodies on, so I don't think they can be identified. But the main thing is that nobody was hurt and the raiders didn't manage to get in and steal anything."
Despite the damage to the front of the shop, the store was open today.
West Mercia Police spokesman Kieren Bodill said: "Four people whose descriptions are unknown, have tried to force their way into a Spar Store on Salop Street and failed.
"One of the offenders has then reversed a vehicle described as an 'old-style' into the shop door shutters and caused damage to the rear end of the vehicle, before driving from the scene."
Police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in Salop Street, know of an old vehicle that has recently suffered damage as mentioned, or has any information which would help with their enquiries.
Anyone with information is asked to call West Mercia Police on 101, quoting incident 34s of February 12. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org
