Three shops with in a few miles of each other were broken into in the early hours of this morning.

A farm shop in Birchington was the first.

Cash was stolen and a door of the farm shop in Park Road was damaged.

The burglary was reported to police at 1.40am this morning.

A Co-op store in Hopeville Avenue, Broadstairs just five miles away was then broken into and cigarettes stolen.

Police were called at 2.18am.

A till and more cigarettes were reported stolen from a shop in George Hill Road, Broadstairs soon after.

A vehicle, also stolen during the night, is believed to have been driven into the front of the two Broadstairs businesses.

The car, a black Vauxhall Meriva, has been recovered by officers in Westover Road.

Inquiries into the burglaries and car theft are ongoing.

Anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious during the early hours of this morning can call police on 01843 222289 quoting 46/135603/19.

Or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or by clicking here.

To get the latest updates in ongoing cases, police appeals and criminals put behind bars, click here

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