Fashion store hit by ram-raid a third time in one year

A MAN has been arrested after a ram-raid on a designer clothes shop in Leeds – the third targeting the same store in the space of a year.

Detectives were last night quizzing a 24-year-old man following the incident at Flannels in Leeds city centre on Monday.

Police said tens of thousands of pounds worth of clothes were believed to have been taken during the raid at the store on Vicar Lane.

Police did not believe the offence this week was linked to previous ram-raids in June this year and December 2017 – but were “keeping an open mind”.

Detective Inspector Amanda Wimbles, of Leeds District CID, said: “We are very much aware that this shop has been targeted on previous occasions for the high-value clothing that it sells.

“There is nothing at this stage to link last night’s raid to any of the previous incidents but we are keeping an open mind.

“We are currently carrying out checks on CCTV in the area and conducting inquiries around the vehicles involved.”

Police said they were called to the scene after 9pm when the alarm was raised by members of the public.

They said a black Nissan Qashqai – which police said was stolen in a burglary in Roundhay last month – had been reversed into the front window of the shop to gain entry.

It is believed three of the four suspects seen at the scene raided the store and stole clothing with an estimated value of tens of thousands of pounds.

Police said the suspects then drove off in a black BMW 4x4 and a red Mercedes hatchback, leaving the Nissan embedded in the shop.

The Nissan Qashqai, which has been recovered from the scene for forensic examination, was displaying false number plates

Det Insp Wimbles said: “We fully appreciate that incidents of this nature in the city centre cause understandable concern to the public and to the business community.

“Our colleagues in the city neighbourhood policing team are working to provide suitable reassurance and advice following this incident.”