On the morning of Monday, April 15, an incident occurred at 6:30am at the Tesco Express store located in Millbrook Square, Grove. The supermarket was forced to close for the entire day as Thames Valley Police officers set up a cordon and conducted investigations, keeping a strong presence on-site. Forensics teams were seen working inside the store, while two officers stood guard at the perimeter tape. A lone police car remained stationed in the car park throughout the day.
Possible Armed Robbery
Nearby businesses speculated that the incident may have been an armed robbery. Staff from Parsons Bakery and Acacia indicated that an armed robbery might have occurred earlier in the day at the Tesco Express. Ajit, the owner of a neighboring store, Smith’s DIY shop, wasn’t present at the time but later learned about the incident from others in the area.
Ajit shared concerns about safety in the wake of recent events. “I don’t feel safe; we feel scared, and incidents like this have happened multiple times—maybe four or five. Armed robberies or altercations have not been uncommon in this area. However, this is the first time I’ve heard of a firearm being involved, with rumors suggesting it was a shotgun,” he said.
Impact on Local Business Owners
The event left local shop owners, including Ajit and his wife, deeply shaken. Despite their unease, they expressed confidence in the police’s ability to manage the situation. “The thought of firearms around here is unnerving, but we trust that the police are doing their jobs. If anything were to happen, we’re confident that they will respond promptly,” Ajit added.
A police officer at the scene confirmed that no injuries had resulted from the incident but declined to provide further details. They did, however, offer reassurance: “No one has been hurt or injured. At this time, we cannot disclose any additional information.”
Ongoing Police Investigations
Thames Valley Police issued an official statement acknowledging the incident. “We are aware of an incident at Tesco Express, Millbrook Square, Grove, around 6:30am this morning. Officers attended the scene, and an investigation is now underway. Speculating on the exact circumstances of the incident at this stage would not be appropriate,” said a force spokesperson.
Additional reassurance was provided to the community with the statement, “We believe this incident does not pose any further risk to the public.” As of Monday afternoon, no arrests had been made. Anyone with information relevant to the matter is encouraged to contact the police on 101, referencing 43240171407.
Tesco’s Statement
Later that day, Tesco issued a public statement in response to the event. “Following an incident this morning (Monday, April 15), our Grove Express store is currently closed while we assist the police with their inquiries. We are working to reopen the store as soon as possible and apologize for any inconvenience caused,” a Tesco spokesperson stated.
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