POLICE have stepped up their hunt for Wallingford's ramraiders by setting up an incident room.

The Thames Valley Police team are investigating whether four incidents in the town, which took place in December and January, are linked to other ramraids across the region.

Lloyds Chemist, in Wallingford, was attacked twice and goods worth a total of £26,000 were stolen in early-morning raids, involving cars being driven into the front window of the Market Place store. The raids took place in December and January.

Det Sgt Mark Davis, who is based at the incident room in Sulhamstead, near Reading, said: "We are looking at a series of raids and the ones in Wallingford may or may not be connected.

"We are looking at what evidence we have to link the offences."

He added that it was too early to comment on the actual investigation, as the incident room was set up only a week ago.

Wallingford has suffered a series of other serious crimes over the last few months, including an armed robbery at Unwins in St John's Road last month, when nearly £200 in cash and 200 cigarettes were stolen, and a £15,000 jewellery robbery at the Lamb Arcade in December.

Cash was also stolen from Martin's newsagent in Market Place in December.

The incidents have prompted members of Wallingford Business 2000 to look into setting up a CCTV system for the town.

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