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‘The people who did this, they are cowards’ - Residents react to shock ram raid at Reepham post office
Greg Peck. Picture: DONNA-LOUISE BISHOP - Credit: Archant
A community has rallied together to show its support after the town's post office was ram raided in the early hours of the morning.
Police were called at 3.45am today to reports that a JCB had stolen the cash point from the side of the shop in Market Place, Reepham.
The JCB was subsequently burned out and abandoned in the middle of the road.
Broadland District councillor, Greg Peck, covers Eynesford ward and visited Reepham today where he pledged to crack down on rural crime.
He said: 'I'm outraged. It's horrendous. I can't imagine the mind set of these people.
Moments after Reepham post office ram raid. Picture: ALEXANDER HARPER - Credit: Archant
'We have extremely low crime rate in this area. The post office agreed to have the cash point installed and they went through a very thorough planning process to be able to have it there safely.
'Something has got to be done to stop these people and protect the places they are targeting.
'The town council, myself, and the district councillor for Reepham, will want to have a meeting with the police and find out what can be done to stop this happening again.'
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Residents have been left shaken by the incident.
Moments after Reepham post office ram raid. Picture: ALEXANDER HARPER - Credit: Archant
Louisa Dreisin, who has lived close to Market Place for a decade, said: 'It is such an assault on everyone.
'This is our town and we are a very close community. We all love our town. It's a beautiful town.
'The people who did this, they are cowards. It is almost beyond articulation. When someone comes along and does something like that, well, I feel outraged by it all.'
This is not the first time a crime like this has happened in Reepham.
Reepham post office following ram raid. Picture: REEPHAM POST OFFICE - Credit: Archant
A similar raid was carried out at the town's HSBC bank in 2012, although the branch is now closed.
Alexander Harper, of Church Street, witnessed and filmed the incident after he was woken up by the noise of the post office alarm. He was concerned that crimes like this were becoming a trend in the small market town.
Recounting what he saw, he said: 'Initially I was very worried. I wasn't a hundred per cent sure what was on fire. There was a lot of smoke. But the fire brigade came pretty fast and got everything under control.'
Dozens of people have visited the shop owners today to show their support and more have taken to Facebook and Twitter to express their shock.
