Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Villagers shocked as shop is raided during the night
Raiders smashed their way into Blean’s village shop in the early hours of Monday morning and stole cigarettes, alcohol and money.
A white Mercedes estate was seen outside the shop in Tyler Hill Road before three men jumped out and broke through the glass doors at the front. They stole what owner Binny Amin, 36, describes as “a lot of alcohol and cigarettes” plus chocolate and charity collection tins.
Mr Amin said: “I’ve been here more than five years and this sort of thing has never happened before. It’s appalling. One of the best things about Blean is that it has no crime and is one of the nicest, safest places.”
Police say the raid happened between 3.45am and 3.50am. One suspect was wearing a black jumper, dark tracksuit trousers and dark trainers. The second was wearing a navy Nike jacket with a hood, dark trainers and orange gloves. The third man was wearing a tan brown-coloured Parka-style coat with a fur hood and black gloves. All three men were white.
After the raid their Mercedes C-class estate car drove off along Tyler Hill Road towards Tyler Hill. Godfrey King, 87, who lives in nearby Blean Common, is a regular customer of the store.
He said: “Apparently they got in with pickaxes. Stuff like this never usually happens round here.
“I’ve lived here for 50 years and this has never happened before.”
Anyone with information about the burglary, or who recognises the descriptions of the men or the car, should call police on 01843 222289, quoting reference number ZY/9193/16.