Cigarettes and tobacco stolen from Tesco delivery vehicle near Whitchurch
Cigarettes and tobacco were stolen from Tesco delivery vehicle near Whitchurch on Tuesday morning.
The incident took place at around 8.15am when the delivery lorry was parked up in a layby on the A41 near to the Grindley Brook roundabout.
Access was gained to the rear of the vehicle, as the driver became alerted to this, the delivery driver drove his vehicle away from the layby, turning left at the roundabout in the direction of Grindley Brook. The Tesco lorry was then stopped by the offenders when they used a dark blue Audi A4 estate to create a .
It is believed that the offenders took a large amount of cigarettes and tobacco from the rear of the vehicle, loading it into a white Mercedes sprinter van.
Both vehicles then headed in the direction of Grindley Brook roundabout on the A41.
Police say the delivery van driver was not harmed or spoken too during the incident.
A similar incident took place in Kidderminster later on Tuesday afternoon at around 2.10pm when a delivery vehicle was parked at Tesco Express, Bridge Street, Cockley. Cigarettes were loaded into a white Mercedes van and a blue Audi A4 estate may have also been in the area.
Appeal for Witnesses
Investigating Officers are appealing for witnesses to both or any other information regarding offenders or sightings including dashcam footage of the blue Audi A4 estate and the white Mercedes van in either the Whitchurch or Kidderminster areas.
Officers are also keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed a dark blue Audi A4 estate and / or a white Mercedes sprinter van changing number plates throughout the day.
Detective Sergeant Mat Crisp said: "We are keen to speak with anyone who may have seen either of the incidents involving Tesco delivery vehicles. Both incidents occurred on Tuesday (2 April) in the Grindley Brook area of Whitchurch and the second in Cockley, Kidderminster. Both incidents involved offenders driving a blue Audi Estate and a white Mercedes sprinter van. We believe they may have changed their number plates throughout the course of the day.
"Any information relating to these incidents, the offenders or the vehicles will help provide us with a better understanding of what has occurred and aid our investigation.
"We are especially keen to see any dashcam footage from either areas. If you have any information please call 101."
Anyone with information should call police on 101, for the incident in Whitchurch please quote incident number 87s of 2 April 2019 and for the incident in Cockley, Kidderminster quote incident number 342s of 2 April 2019.
Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or use their anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
