POLICE are today hunting a gang of thieves who carried out a massive and brazen burglary on an Ipswich department store.Investigations are underway into how the thieves escaped with a £40,000 haul of goods from the Woolworths store in Carr Street.

POLICE are today hunting a gang of thieves who carried out a massive and brazen burglary on an Ipswich department store.

Investigations are underway into how the thieves escaped with a £40,000 haul of goods from the Woolworths store in Carr Street.

The theft took place either late on April 1 or in the early hours of April 2 when there were no staff at the store.

Today Woolworths said the theft was carried out sometime between 11pm and 1am.

It has not been revealed how the thieves gained entry to the town centre store or how they escaped with such a large quantity of goods.

A spokeswoman for the company said: “Woolworths can confirm that a burglary occurred at its Ipswich Town store on April 1st.

“The store was closed and no staff members were present.

“We are now working closely with the police to catch the perpetrators.”

It is believed the haul of items stolen included computer games and electrical items.

Detective Constable Sarah Witman at Suffolk Police, has been placed in charge of the investigation and the force today appealed for anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the Carr Street area overnight on April 1 to help them with their inquiry.

The Woolworths spokeswoman said security devices had been “refitted” at the store after the burglary but refused to reveal any further details about it.

Anyone with information should call DC Sarah Witman on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Weblink: www.suffolk.police.uk