RESIDENTS have spoken of their outrage after a supermarket was raided for the fourth time in just over two months.

Thieves broke into the Co-operative store on Regent Street, Llangollen, in the early hours of yesterday morning and residents now fear for the safety of their own homes as the store has been targeted on three previous occasions.

On January 20, two men brandishing a knife raided the supermarket but fled empty handed. The two men were arrested and have admitted robbery and possessing a bladed article, and will be sentenced later this month.

A break-in on March 13 saw a quantity of alcohol taken and on March 24, thieves smashed a window to gain entry before stealing cigarettes.

Elizabeth Pybus, 64, of Abbey Road, is a member of Llangollen’s community safety group and mother to a young man who was in the store on January 20 when the armed robbery took place.

She said: “The incident was incredibly traumatic for him as he was actually locked inside the store while the robbery was taking place. It’s a great shame that the shop has been targeted so many times.”

A spokesman for The Co-operative said: “We can confirm that an incident occurred at our food store on Regent Street, Llangollen, in the early hours of Thursday morning, when intruders broke into the store and stole a quantity of cigarettes.

“This follows previous break-ins over recent weeks, and as such The Co-operative is currently planning to introduce increased security at the store.

“CCTV has been given to police, and as with any such incident we would urge anyone with information to come forward.”

A spokesman for North Wales Police said one person was arrested following the March 13 incident but no further action was taken against that individual. No-one has been arrested in connection with the March 24 raid.

Anyone with information can call North Wales Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.