Kingsclere service station attempted burglary foiled

Extensive security measures scare off intruders

Would-be burglars were foiled by extensive security measures at a service station on the fringes of Kingsclere on Tuesday night (June 23).

According to Hampshire Constabulary, at approximately 11.50pm, an attempt was made to force entry at the West Kingsclere Service Station, in Newbury Road, off the A339.

Once inside, the burglars, attempted to steal cigarettes, but were unsuccessful.

Proprietor, John Mason, told Newburytoday he thought the burglars had been frightened off by extensive security measures, including a very loud, alarm, purposefully amplified, he said to increase the sound level and therefore "unbelievably deafening," he said.

The forced entry, he continued, would also have triggered a strobe light and a 'smoke bandit', filling the premises with dry ice:

"They would have been completely disorientated," said Mr Mason.

The £1.5m petrol station and Budgens convenience shop, which opened in February (2015) and houses an off-licence, in-store bakery, car wash, National Lottery tickets point of sale and Costa coffee shop and newsagents, has provided work for 15 people - all from Kingsclere, according to Mr Mason - employed in a mix of full and part time jobs

PCSO Abbey Carpenter said police would like to hear from anyone who may have been in the area at the time of the attempted burglary and who may have information relating to the incident.

Anyone with information should telephone the non emergency telephone number, 101, quoting the police reference number 44150513.