A spate of thefts took place at shops in a Norfolk town early this morning.

Staff at Co-Op stores in Market Square and Lime Tree Avenue, Wymondham arrived for work to find their shops had been targeted in break-ins, with a quantity of cigarettes believed to have been stolen in both cases.

An attempt was also made to break into a Waitrose store between 11pm on Sunday and 4.30am today, but nothing was stolen.

DC Pete Williams, of Norfolk police, was keen to speak to anyone who saw a blue Mercedes 4x4 at the times stated above, prior to an incident where it failed to stop for officers and the car's occupants fled the scene.

He would also like to hear about any other suspicious vehicles in the area at those times and if anyone in Wymondham has lost or received an extra green wheelie bin overnight.

The break-in at the Lime Tree Avenue shop has caused some concerns among nearby residents about the level of policing.

Fred Butcher, who lives in Lime Tree Avenue, said he was not aware of any similar incidents in the past, but said the window at a nearby library had been broken 'every now and again.'

However, he added: 'I don't like it in little places like this. I don't know if they have got enough police around. I think there should be more down here, especially at night.'

But Enek Taylor, who lives further up the road, said she did see police in the area quite regularly and had seen the police cars parking in nearby car parks.

She added: 'I have never known anything like this. You get a little bit of noise if somebody has a party across the road or the pub has a band, but generally it is a quiet area.

'I think it just happens, this kind of thing. If people want to break in and they see an opportunity then they are going to take it.'

Roger Grosvenor, group general manager of trading for the East of England Co-operative Society, said: 'We can confirm that a quantity of cigarettes was stolen during a break-in at our Food Store in Lime Tree Avenue Wymondham in the early hours of Monday morning. We understand that Norfolk police have been able to recover the stock and we are helping them with their enquiries. '

Anyone with information should phone DC Williams on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.