Post Office hit by thieves twice in two weeks

Anil Sundavadra, who has owned the Post Office for about a year and a half, said the break in had been "devastating"

A village Post Office has been robbed for the second time in two weeks.

Cambridgeshire Police said cash, alcohol and cigarettes were stolen from the business in Witchford in the second raid at about 23:00 BST on Sunday.

The force appealed for more information after the offenders, who wore face coverings, left Main Street in a dark coloured estate vehicle.

Ruth Gibbs watched the incident from her window while reporting it to the police and said a second hit on the same business was "unbelievable".

In the first incident on 19 August, three men in balaclavas stole thousands of pounds in four minutes, police said.

They broke into the building, which is in a former Baptist church, at about 01:42.

Ruth Gibbs said she called police after hearing "bangs" from outside the shop

Ms Gibbs, who lives in the area, said she heard "banging" on the shop door during both incidents, before reporting them to the police.

She said the shop door had been reinforced since the robbery on 19 August which made it hard for the robbers to break in on the second raid.

They had smashed a window, damaged the front door and eventually broke in through the side of the building, she said.

"I was watching it from my window and thinking this is unbelievable; the second time round [it is] shocking really," Ms Gibbs added.

"I'm thinking of getting cameras up, that's for sure."

Mr Sundavadra the robbers had spent about three minutes trying to break the front door - without success

Sarah Bainsfair, who went to the shop to return parcels, said: "I'm just so surprised because it's such a safe area and things like this don't usually happen [here]."

Shop owner, Anil Sundavadra, 40, hoped to reopen soon, after repairs were made to the doors and windows.

"This is really devastating for the community and for us as well," he said.

Mr Sundavadra added he applied for planning permission for a flat above the shop, but it had been denied.

He hoped to appeal against that decision, adding that having someone living there could help deter potential thieves.