OFFICERS investigating ram raids at a supermarket chain in two County Durham villages believe the incidents are linked.
The Co-op stores in Trimdon Village and Blackhall Colliery, in east Durham, were both targeted in the early hours of Boxing Day.
A spokesperson for Durham Police said between 2.30am and 3am, a stolen burgundy Mercedes was used to ram the shutters of the Co-op, on Church Road, in Trimdon Village gaining access the store.
The suspects left empty handed before travelling to Blackhall Colliery where they rammed the shutters of the village’s Co-op, on Middle Street, at around 3.10am.
Again, no stock was taken.
The police spokesperson added three men and one woman are understood to have run from the car and enquiries are ongoing to trace them.
Anyone with any information on either incident, the first of which is being treated as a burglary and the second as an attempted burglary, is asked to call Durham Police on 101, quoting incident number 54 of December 26, or 48 of December 26.
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