Midsomer Norton High Street saw a police helicopter and dog unit scrambled to action in the early hours of last Thursday, with the attempted burglaries of local shops, Reflections Plus and Cottles at Mansbrook House.

Two would-be thieves attempted to break into the back doors of the properties, being disturbed by a resident living above at around 1.30 a.m. that morning. They returned later at around 4 a.m. to try again, when the police were alerted. Steve Collins, proprietor of Reflections Plus, said that the pair had failed to break into his property, but had managed to get into Cottles, making so much noise that the police had been called before they could steal anything.

He said: “I don’t believe it was a professional job – we’ve just spent a whole lot of time reorganising the shop, so it would have been devastating if they had managed to get in. Thankfully, in 25 years, this is only the second time the shop has been targeted in this way.

“I’m upset that for small, independent family businesses, who are trying to make a living, we now have to deal with the cost of repairing the damage. My heart was in my mouth when I arrived on Thursday morning and began to piece together what had happened.”

It is reported that a silver Vauxhall Meriva was seen driving away at speed, which was later dumped on the new Mardons estate, prompting the police helicopter and dog team to search for the pair, who escaped. If anyone has any information, they are asked to contact the police by dialling 101. As The Journal went to press, a 27-year-old local man had been arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary.