Police have confirmed that £5,000 was stolen from the Co-Op in Sandown last night (Thursday), with 2 men from Southampton arrested as they headed for the Red Funnel ferry. As first reported by Island Echo, officers were deployed to the High Street in Sandown at just gone 22:00 following an alarm activation at the local Co-Op store. Police arrived on scene to find that entry had been forced to the premises through the front door – thought to be with a crowbar. A cordon was soon erected around the store entrance, with a scene guard in place overnight and throughout today as investigations have taken place. This afternoon Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has confirmed that a large quantity of cash – £5,000 to be exact – was taken from the High Street shop. It happened less than 15 minutes after staff had headed home for the night. Island Echo is told that the burglars, who were caught on CCTV, were in and out of the store within just a couple of minutes. The shop’s safe was not targeted, Police say, and the tills appear to be intact, raising questions as to where the money was stored. 
A 37-year-old man and a 33-year-old man, both from Southampton, were arrested in Castle Street in East Cowes – thought to be as they headed for the ferry back to the mainland – around an hour after the break-in. The duo were arrested on suspicion of burglary other than dwelling and conspiring to commit a burglary other than dwelling with intent to steal. They both remain in Police custody at this time. 
Detectives are exploring whether or not this burglary is linked to a similar incident at the Co-Op in East Cowes back on 17th January, when a large quantity of cash was stolen in an overnight break-in. In both investigations, questions will undoubtedly be asked as to how the burglars knew that money was being stored on site and where to find it. A spokesperson for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has said:
“We can’t confirm at this early stage if these incidents are linked, but this is something we are working to establish”.
