Ram raid post office opens
STORE RETURNS AFTER BUNGLED RAID
The villagers have been delighted to have us back Gavin Richards
A VILLAGE post office which was almost destroyed in a dramatic ramraid has re-opened to the public.
Police are still hunting the would-be thieves, who used a stolen tractor to smash into the front of the County Durham shop in a bungled attempt to steal a cash machine.
Determined post master Gavin Richards has worked flat out for six weeks to get the Langley Park Post Office, which provides a vital service to the community, ready to re-open.
And he has told The Chronicle of his joy at being up and running once again.
“The villagers have been delighted to have us back,” he said. “It’s not just us that have been affected, it’s everyone in the village. This is what we are here for.”
Police believe the suspects used a stolen red Ford Fiesta, a stolen Ford Transit van and a New Holland JCB-type tractor to travel to Langley Park, where they attempted to remove a cashpoint built into the wall of the post office.
After failing in their heist, during the early hours of Monday, March 5, they then made their getaway in a Fiesta along Quebec Road towards Quebec Village.
The front of the post office was left partially collapsed and the tractor remained outside until around lunchtime the same day.
Mr Richards was shocked when he saw the devastation.
“I was just stunned really – it was just the extent of the damage,” he said.
“You know it’s something that can happen because it’s happened all over the country, so it’s not that they were targeting our machine, but when it happens to you it’s a huge shock.”
Mr Richards, who has run the post office for 11 years, said he had to order an entire new frontage for the shop.
Thankfully, the ram-raiders did not cause any major structural damage to the building.
“I was determined to get back up and running as quickly as possible,” said the post master. “It’s not just about wanting to open again because we are not making an income.”
“I’m not worried about it happening again. I maybe would feel differently if it had been a hold-up, but this is a lot less personal.” A spokeswoman from Durham Constabulary has confirmed that no one had yet been arrested in connection with the incident. She said: “Enquiries are ongoing.” Anyone with any information should call Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting incident number 25 of March 5.
Alternatively, information can be passed on to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.