Thieves target cash and carry customers in car park

Feb 16 2009 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A COUPLE were robbed in a cash and carry store’s car park – the latest in a series of terrifying raids.

Now police are warning others after a spate of thefts at the store in Deighton – and they fear the thieves could strike again.

They have been watching customers leaving Batleys Cash and Carry and then stealing valuable items such as cigarettes from them in the car park.

The latest brazen theft was on Saturday morning when a shop-owner couple had 500 cigarettes stolen after visiting the popular cash and carry founded by Huddersfield tycoon and philanthropist Lawrence Batley.

Police now want to warn other customers to be extra careful when loading their cars or vans up with stock.

A police investigation is under way and CCTV footage of the incident is being viewed.

Mukhtiar and Gurbind Singh Hans became the latest victims at around 11am.

They were loading 500 cigarettes into the back of their van when a second van pulled up alongside them.

As Mr Singh Hans returned a trolley, a man jumped out of the second van and grabbed hold of the stock.

Mrs Singh Hans cut her finger on the van door as she tried to hold on to the stock, but the thief managed to drive off with the cigarettes.