Thieves target supermakets in Warminster and Westbury (From This Is Wiltshire)

Supermarkets in Warminster and Westbury have been targeted by groups of offenders in the last fortnight, with hundreds of pounds worth of alcohol stolen.

Police received five reports of alcohol theft from supermarkets, with the first theft of £400 worth stolen in Warminster on January 17.

There were also two reports of £200 worth of alcohol stolen from Westbury and one report of £600 worth in Warminster on January 19, while a further £300 worth from Warminster was reported last Wednesday.

Police believe the offenders are visiting the alcohol areas of the supermarkets and selecting various bottles, usually including champagne, before moving them within the store to other aisles.

After moving the alcohol, they leave the store and a different group of individuals enter some time later to gather up the moved bottles from where they are hidden.

Inspector Lindsey Winter said: “If you see people acting suspiciously, perhaps involved in this type of criminality, while carrying out your routine shopping you need to mention this to the staff working in the stores straight way.

“Staff on the tills, information desk or floor walkers are aware of this type of criminality and they will make the necessary in-store arrangements and the police will undoubtedly be informed.

“The groups of people committing this type of crime need to be disrupted and if possible apprehended by the police.

“The general public are invaluable in helping us with our crime enquiries and if they can simply mention suspicious activity they might see to staff, I am confident it will bring us a step closer to identifying who is doing this.”