East Devon supermarkets targeted for vapes by burglars

Police are appealing for residents to check their doorbell and CCTV footage after a series of supermarket burglaries in East Devon.

Thousands of pounds worth of vapes and cigarettes were taken during three break-ins at Morrisons Daily stores in Exmouth and Ottery St Mary in the space of a week.

The Pines Road store in Exmouth was targeted twice on 21 and 23 August, while the West Hill outlet in Ottery St Mary was broken into on 27 August.

All of the raids happened in the early hours of the morning with offenders smashing the glass front door of the shops to get inside.

Officers are linking the offences and appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to contact them.

They are specifically calling on residents to check their CCTV and doorbell cameras for any footage which may have captured two suspects in the area.

The first burglary happened at the Exmouth store between 4.20am and 5am on Wednesday 21 August with around £7,000 worth of tobacco, vapes and drinks taken.

Two suspects, thought to be a young man and woman - were seen running towards Jubilee Drive and vapes were left scattered in the street outside the store.

One was wearing a white or grey hoody with a black jacket over and a cap under the hood, plus black trainers. He was carrying a black rucksack. The second suspect was dressed in a black top with the hood up and wearing a black face covering.

The same store was targeted again between 4.50am and 5.30am on Friday 23 August. The front door was forced and the window smashed before a haul of similar items and value was taken.

Two men made off in the direction of Jubilee Drive, one carrying a black bag and the other a white bag, and again discarded vapes were left around the area.

The Morrisons Daily in West Hill, Ottery St Mary, was burgled days later on Bank Holiday Monday between 12.50am and 1.30am. A rock was thrown through the glass front door and again vapes and tobacco products were taken.

On this occasion one male suspect was described as white, dressed in black and wearing gloves, with black trainers with a white sole. He was carrying a blue carrier bag. The second suspect was also white and dressed in a grey hoody, black jogging bottoms with a white stripe down each leg, gloves, and carrying a yellow carrier bag.

PC Samuel Morris said: “We are currently linking these burglaries and as part of our investigation we are asking for residents in these areas to check their personal CCTV or doorbell cameras to see if they have any footage which may help with our enquiries.

“We are particularly interested in CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage from the Exmouth areas of Jubilee Drive, Marley Road, Lovering Close and Byron Way.

Anyone who can assist police with their investigation is asked to report information online or telephone 101, quoting crime number 50240211106 for Exmouth or 50240216110 for Ottery St Mary.