Boxgrove Post Office Raid Foiled By Smoke Cloak Alarm

Published on: 4 Sep, 2012
Updated on: 4 Sep, 2012

Three masked men attempted to cut their way into a local post office facility in Boxgrove, Merrow using a chain saw and axle grinder in a bid to break the door lock on Friday night (31 Aug).

Anne Milton outside Boxgrove Post Office ten days ago when the refurbished Post Office with One-Stop was opened

The thieves managed to get into the store in Collingwood Crescent, just before 10.40pm after smashing a window in the door. The Post Office section of the store was only recently reopened following refurbishment (see article).

The intruders tried to access the cash machine and a smoke cloak security device was activated as a result. The suspects grabbed a case of scratch cards and kicked over a lottery machine before making a get away in a dark coloured car.

A large quantity of different types of scratch cards were stolen in the raid and £1200 worth of damage was caused to the property and the lottery machine.

Temporary Detective Inspector Mark Parry of Guildford CID said: “This was an offence which would appear to have been pre-planned with the suspects arriving armed with tools to attempt to gain entry to the store. It seems that the offenders panicked when the smoke cloak alarm was set off and they grabbed whatever was to hand, in this case lottery scratch cards.

Above via a link to You Tube is a video clip that demonstrates a ‘smoke cloak device’ in action. This is NOT Boxgrove Post Office.

DI Parry continued: “This is an attack on a small local premise within a community and I am sure there must be some local residents in the Boxgrove area who may have seen unusual or suspicious activity around the time of the incident. I need to speak with anyone who has any information and I would ask people to call Surrey Police on 101 as soon as possible and help officers bring these offenders to justice.”

Please call Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference GD/12/8014 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.