UPDATED: Hundreds donated for Bodicote shop after ram-raid

Nearly £3,000 has been donated after a shop in Bodicote was ram-raided in the early hours of this morning (Wednesday, March 14).
The Spar in Bodicote was ram-raided in an attempt to steal the ATM NNL-180314-162856001The Spar in Bodicote was ram-raided in an attempt to steal the ATM NNL-180314-162856001
The Spar in Bodicote was ram-raided in an attempt to steal the ATM NNL-180314-162856001

A group of thieves used a stolen Land Rover Discovery to smash through the front of the Spar on Molyneux Drive at around 4.30am.

An ATM was the suspected target which was removed from the shop but it was empty and left at the scene

The Spar in Bodicote was ram-raided in an attempt to steal the ATM NNL-180314-162922001The Spar in Bodicote was ram-raided in an attempt to steal the ATM NNL-180314-162922001
The Spar in Bodicote was ram-raided in an attempt to steal the ATM NNL-180314-162922001
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The Land Rover and another vehicle were left in the road and the offenders made off in a grey coloured Audi.

The offenders are described as four men, in dark coloured clothing with their faces covered.

This is the third robbery the shop has suffered since the beginning of February and owner Sally Read is frustrated but thankful for the support.

“It’s just very time-consuming and exhausting having to deal with it all really,” she said.

The Spar in Bodicote was ram-raided in an attempt to steal the ATM NNL-180314-162910001The Spar in Bodicote was ram-raided in an attempt to steal the ATM NNL-180314-162910001
The Spar in Bodicote was ram-raided in an attempt to steal the ATM NNL-180314-162910001
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“But the police were fantastic and the whole village has been fantastic and we’ve just been overwhelmed by the amount of support and donations.”

Mrs Read hoped to have the shop reopened by today with work going on to clear up the mess.

“I was shocked at the amount of mess, that was my initial reaction, and the stupidity of trying to steal an ATM that was empty,” she said.

“We leave the front open so if they had bothered to look they could see it was empty.”

Sally Read of Bodicote Post Office NNL-180602-124339009Sally Read of Bodicote Post Office NNL-180602-124339009
Sally Read of Bodicote Post Office NNL-180602-124339009
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A neighbour set up the crowdfunding page ‘to show them the local community care and are behind them 100 per cent’ and cover any costs.

An initial target of £1,500 was quickly surpassed with the current total over £4,600.

Mrs Read was very grateful for all of the support, especially from her staff who she said ‘she could not cope without’.

To donate to the appeal, visit www.gofundme.com/support-our-local-shop.

The Spar in Bodicote was ram-raided in an attempt to steal the ATM NNL-180314-162922001The Spar in Bodicote was ram-raided in an attempt to steal the ATM NNL-180314-162922001
The Spar in Bodicote was ram-raided in an attempt to steal the ATM NNL-180314-162922001
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Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Chris Whitwell said: “We are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident.

“The offenders did not get away with any cash and the vehicle has now been recovered by police.

“If you have any information relating to this case, please call 101 quoting reference ‘43180077683’, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.”

> The story has been updated with a brief description of the offenders and the getaway vehicle.