[dropcap type=”circle”]T[/dropcap]he Premier convenience store and off-license in the heart of the Lower Village has been targeted by apparently professional thieves who made off with an unknown quantity of cash from the branch’s ATM.
Merseyside Police have issued this CCTV image of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the burglary.
The offence was committed in the small hours of this morning. A section of pavement on Village Road was cordoned off as police investigations got underway, and earlier the road itself was closed briefly.
The burglary appears to have been well planned and executed quickly by relatively sophisticated criminals. Using an angle grinder they penetrated the roll-down shutters protecting the store, before using the same or a similar device to tear open the cash machine.
A local eyewitness driving past the store at around 00.40 described what he saw: “There was a Silver 4 door car parked outside at 12:40 last night. One man standing approximately 6ft 1 tall wearing all black and a balaclava.
“One man kneeling down with an angle grinder behind the car cutting at the shutters. One further unconfirmed person In the car.
“I beeped my horn to let them know I’d seen what was going on, then got home within a couple of minutes and dialled 999.”
Police officers responded rapidly but, by the time of their arrival, the offenders had made their escape.
Damage caused during the burglary means that the Premier will remain closed today, though co-owner Tina Gibson says she is naturally eager to reopen first thing tomorrow morning to welcome local shoppers who are the lifeblood of the store.
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