TWO people have appeared in court after a string of shop burglaries in Somerset and Dorset, including Brocks convenience store in Rockwell Green.
Brocks was burgled in the early hours of March 30 when thieves used a sledgehammer to smash their way into the shop and take hundreds of pounds of tobacco and vaping products in just 90 seconds.
The store was raided again at the weekend when thieves broke in early on Sunday (April 28).
On Monday (April 29) a man and woman appeared before magistrates in Taunton accused of conspiracy to commit burglaries at four stores in Somerset and Dorset.
Luke Spencer, aged 34, of no fixed address, and Emma Hendy, aged 46 of Blackdown Road, Bridgwater, were committed to Taunton Crown Court for a hearing on May 31.
Spencer was charged with conspiring to commit burglary of premises other than a dwelling, between January 14 and April 28.
The charge encompassed alleged offences at Brocks, in Rockwell Green, Wellington, on April 28, and a BP garage in Curry Rivel, a Premier store in Moorland Road, Bridgwater, and a store in Mosterton, Dorset.
He was also charged with causing actual bodily harm to a store worker in Dorset, and driving otherwise in accordance with a licence.
Hendy was charged with conspiring to commit burglary other than a dwelling between April 27 and 28, which encompassed the same alleged offences in Wellington and in Mosterton, Dorset.
She was further charged with permitting the use of a motor vehicle without insurance.
Spencer was remanded in custody and Hendy was released on conditional bail pending the crown court appearance at the end of May.
Simon Brock, the owner of Brocks, has now put up steel roller shutters to protect the front of the store since the second incident.
The first incident is understood to have been the first burglary in nearly 25 years since Mr Brock opened the store. Residents told the Wellington Weekly about their “shock and disbelief” over the incident.
Sgt Jon O’Connor told the town council two arrests were made within 30 minutes of the incident.