A GANG of robbers were arrested within an hour of raiding a Co-op supermarket on Monday (Aug 26) after quick work by police.

Police were called to the shop in Hallett Road, Flitch Green, Great Dunmow, after reports that men wearing dark clothes and balaclavas had walked in, gone behind the till area and taken around £3,000 worth of cigarettes, before fleeing in a car. The robbery was almost identical to a raid on the Co-op store in Hatfield Heath on Thursday August 15.

Essex police said swift work involving Braintree CID, Braintree and Uttlesford local policing team, the roads policing unit and staff from the force’s control room identified the suspects’ car.

Following a pursuit, and with support from Metropolitan Police officers, the car was brought to a safe stop in Redbridge, east London. Four men and one woman were arrested on suspicion of robbery and possession of drugs offences. The driver of the vehicle was also arrested for a number of motoring offences.

All five suspects are currently in custody and being questioned.

Inspector Andy Drake, from Braintree CID, said: “This was a fantastic response by our officers and demonstrates how our teams work together every day to detect crime.

“We understand this would have been a concerning incident to witness. We will not tolerate people who think they can come to Essex and commit this type of offence.

“Our enquiries are at an early stage and we are still appealing to anyone who has any information to get in touch.”

Information can be reported on the Essex police website or by using their online Live Chat service which is available 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week, or by calling 101 citing incident 1052 of August 26.

The raid on the Co-op on The Heath in Hatfield Heath saw four masked and hooded men walk into the store at about 11am on Thursday August 15. They forced their way behind the counter and emptied tills and cigarette shelves, with the approximate value of the stolen items more than £3,000.