POLICE have raided the homes of youths suspected of vandalising the Tesco Express store in Calne on Tuesday night.

In scenes reminiscent of the rioting and looting seen around the UK this week, seven youths wearing hoodies attempted to smash the shop’s window by throwing house bricks at it and hitting it with sticks.

Frightened staff, who were in the store at 9.45pm on Tuesday, called 999 to report the incident, but when officers arrived the yobs had left the scene.

After analysing CCTV footage yesterday morning, speaking to members of the public, and monitoring social networking sites including Facebook, officers received intelligence linking five youths with the crime and raided their addresses yesterday afternoon.

By the time the Gazette went to press, two of the youths had been arrested with further arrest attempts on the remaining suspects scheduled to be carried out on Wednesday night.

Sergeant Phil Conner, of Calne Police, said: “This is a one-off incident where a number of local youths from the town have taken advantage of there being just two members of staff on duty.

“The staff have obviously been caused some distress and this type of anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.

“Anyone with information can call Calne Police.”

One of the shop’s large window panes was badly cracked after repeated blows but didn’t shatter and has since been temporarily repaired with transparent sheeting.

The suspects were believed to have been inside the store earlier in the evening but no goods were stolen.

Calne Mayor Glenis Ansell condemned the yobbish attack and said townspeople would not stand for it.

“I suspect this is copycat behaviour and it will not be tolerated,” she said.

“We have such a good policing team in Calne, these individuals will be tracked down and punished.

“There will be a public outcry over this.

“I know that the people of Calne will definitely not put up with it.

“We have recently shown at Calnefest that we are capable of behaving properly and having a great time.

“We have a peaceful community here and it is very important that we do not tolerate this silliness.”

Following the call to the emergency services, regular police patrols monitored the site throughout the night and on Wednesday morning three members of the Neighbourhood Policing Team visited staff.

They tested the store’s panic alarm system and downloaded CCTV footage, from both inside and outside the store, for use in their investigation.

Anyone with any information which could assist police inquiries into the incident at Tesco Express is asked to call Wiltshire Police on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.