**Family-Run Store Targeted in Early Morning Raid as Jaguar F-Pace Used to Smash Into Shop**
A family-owned department store in Crickhowell endured a shocking burglary in the early hours of Wednesday, following a deliberate ram-raid involving a luxury vehicle. Thieves used a white Jaguar F-Pace to plough through the front window of Webbs Stores, making off with more than £6,000 worth of stock in the process. The incident has prompted an urgent appeal from Dyfed-Powys Police for witnesses or information that could help track down the offenders.
According to police reports, the raid was carried out by three men shortly after 1am on 23 July. The perpetrators gained forced entry to the premises by driving the Jaguar directly into the shopfront, causing considerable damage to the building and shattering the main display window. The use of such a high-end vehicle has added to the shock and impact of the event for the local community.
Among the stolen items were several valuable power tools, including STIHL-branded pressure washers, hedge trimmers, leaf blowers, strimmers, and chainsaws. These products are popular among both professional contractors and garden enthusiasts, making them potentially easy targets for illicit resale. Police are urging anyone offered STIHL equipment under suspicious circumstances to come forward and assist with the investigation.
Peter Webb, who manages Webbs Stores, described the aftermath as both “distressing and upsetting”. However, he insisted that the crime would not deter the family from serving the community, maintaining a resilient outlook. “It’s distressing and upsetting but we’re not going to let it beat us,” Mr Webb told reporters. He praised the prompt response from police and noted that, after forensic teams completed their work, family members and staff worked together to clear up the damage and reopen for business the same day.
Despite the visible scars left by the break-in, the team at Webbs Stores was determined to keep their doors open. The storefront has been temporarily boarded up while repairs are arranged. “Obviously it’s going to take some time now to replace the window and whatever, but we’re not going to let it get to us. You’ve just got to carry on. You can’t let these people win,” Mr Webb added. Operating in Crickhowell for 90 years, the family business has weathered many storms, and Mr Webb made clear they will not be driven away by this incident.
CCTV footage from the night has been handed over to police investigators, who are now scouring the evidence for leads. While the investigation is ongoing and no arrests have yet been made, officers are optimistic that footage and community assistance could provide a breakthrough.
Dyfed-Powys Police have asked anyone with potentially useful information, including those who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the early hours or been approached about buying power tools, to step forward. Tips can be provided online, by emailing 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk, through direct messaging on social media, or by ringing 101 and quoting reference 25*605421. For those wishing to remain anonymous, the charity Crimestoppers can also be contacted.
The incident has shocked the local community, where Webbs Stores has long been a fixture on the high street. Concerns have been raised about the targeting of small, independent businesses by organised criminals, as well as the boldness shown in using an expensive vehicle to execute the raid.
As repairs get underway and the police investigation continues, the store owners are urging residents to remain vigilant and support each other. Their message, underpinned by decades of service, is clear: while this crime has taken its toll, it will not change the spirit of the community nor deter their commitment to local customers.