Police expand Plympton Co-op ram-raid inquiry as new witness appeal issued

Police have widened their appeal for information following a late-night ram-raid at a Co-op store in Plympton, as previously reported by The Moorlander yesterday.

Devon and Cornwall Police were called to the Co-op on Glen Road at around 1.45am on Monday, February 2, after reports that two cashpoint machines had been torn from the building.

READ NEXT: Eye-catching plans lodged for Devon water tower to be converted into unique home

Investigators believe a stolen John Deere telehandler was driven into the wall of the store, allowing the machines to be removed. 

Police say the vehicle had been stolen earlier that night from a nearby farm in the Smithaleigh area.

Officers believe four people were involved in the break-in and that they arrived at the store in stolen vehicles. 

The suspects are thought to have fled the scene in those vehicles, which were later found burned out in woodland near Sparkwell, with the telehandler found left behind at the Co-op.

Images shared with The Moorlander earlier this afternoon show repair work under way at the store, with fencing and scaffolding now in place around the damaged area.

In an update issued today, detectives said they are now appealing directly to accommodation providers in and around Plympton, including bed and breakfasts and short-term holiday lets.

Detective Constable Andrew Trott-Rodgers said police believe those involved may have stayed locally before the raid. 

He said: “It is thought they are likely to have stayed in the area prior to the incident, and we would like to hear from anyone who had a booking from four men over the weekend.”

ABOVE: Repair works ongoing at the Plympton Co-op, with scaffolding, fencing and a skip visible at the site after the late-night burglary (Image: Ella Sampson)

Police have also renewed their appeal for witnesses who may have seen suspicious activity near Piggeries Farm, where the telehandler is believed to have been taken between 5.30pm on Sunday, February 1, and 1.30am the following morning.

Officers are continuing to ask residents in the Glen Road and Downfield Drive areas to check doorbell or dashcam footage from the early hours of Monday.

The Moorlander contacted the Co-op for further information, and a spokesperson for the company confirmed the Glen Road store has now reopened following the incident but did not provide further details about the damage or the costs or timescales of repair work.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or report online, quoting crime reference number 50260027042. 

Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.