Arrests over raids on Trimley, Lavenham, Rickinghall and Great Cornard stores

A vehicle was driven into the front of the Trimley St Martin store

Police have arrested two people in connection with a series of ram-raid incidents at convenience stores.

The arrests relate to five attempted ram-raids targeting cash machines in Rickinghall, Great Cornard, Lavenham and Trimley St Martin, across Suffolk.

A 29-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman, from the Maldon area of Essex, were arrested on suspicion of burglary.

Suffolk Police said they were released under investigation pending further inquiries.

The Co-op in The Street, Rickinghall, was targeted on 5 December 2017 with the Co-op in The Drift, Great Cornard, raided the following day.

Ram-raiders hit the Co-op Village Shop in High Street, Lavenham, on 21 December, McColl's in High Road, Trimley St Martin, on 8 January 2018 and the Co-operative Food store in High Street, Lavenham, on 9 January.

The Co-operative Food store on High Street, Lavenham, was targeted on 9 January 2018

Police said a silver Subaru Impreza was reversed into the McColl's on High Road in Trimley, but the car flipped over.

A car was abandoned in the first Lavenham incident while sledgehammers were used in the second.

The East of England Co-op has offered a £40,000 reward for information.

The Co-op Village Shop on Lavenham's High Street had a car abandoned inside it on 21 December

Other ram-raids have taken place at East of England Co-op stores in Dedham, Halstead and Manningtree in Essex.

The store in Dedham, which was hit on 10 December, has moved temporarily into a barn while repairs are carried out.

A 24-year-old man was arrested in connection with an unrelated ram-raid on the Co-op store on Hall Street, Long Melford, last month.