A large group of travellers who invaded a Tesco car park harrassed shoppers, stole food from trolleys and attempted to get into other vehicles, police said.
Police were first made aware of the group after receiving reports of people entering residents’ gardens, assaults and stones being thrown at a park in West Sussex.
After being hit with a dispersal order to leave the park, the encampment moved into a car park at a Tesco superstore just five minutes down the road on Wednesday.
As well as causing havoc at the supermarket, police also received reports that the group damaged a fridge in the nearby Currys and stole items from there and Wickes.
Reports to police included the group harassing shoppers, taking food from trolleys and trying to gain entry into cars.
Aerial pictures show 19 caravans parked across several spaces in the car park alongside several vans and cars at the store on Broad Piece in Wick, Littlehampton.
Police arrived at the car park yesterday evening after receiving reports of criminal behaviour and ‘enacted legislation for the travellers to leave’.
Sergeant Molly O’Malley at Sussex Police said: ‘We acted as swiftly as we could and thank the public for calling in as they really are our eyes and ears.
A large group of travellers who invaded a Tesco car park harrased shoppers, stealing food from trolleys and attempting to get into other vehicles, police said
Police also received reports that the group damaged a fridge in the nearby Currys and stole items from there and Wickes
Aerial pictures show 19 caravans parked across several spaces in the car park alongside several vans and cars at the store on Broad Piece in Wick, Littlehampton
‘We empathise with the residents, shoppers and businesses impacted by this antisocial and criminal behaviour.
‘We took positive action and quickly enacted legislation for the travellers to leave.
‘We will investigate any reports made to us, based on the evidence available.’
The caravans first pitched up at the Tesco superstore on Wednesday morning and remained there throughout the day.
They were seen leaving Rosemead Park, where they had been previously pitched, roughly a five minute drive from the supermarket.
After departing the park following a dispersal order issued by police, Littlehampton Town Council, which owns the site, issued a statement on social media.
The post read: ‘Following enforcement action the unauthorised encampment at Rosemead Park has now departed.
‘Sussex Police issued a notice requiring the occupants to leave the site by 10am today (Wednesday, April 9), using their statutory powers in response to reported concerns.
The caravans first pitched up at the Tesco superstore on Wednesday morning and remained there throughout the day
Police recieved reports that the traveller group damaged a fridge in the nearby Currys (pictured)
They are also said to have thieved from both Currys and Wickes (pictured) near to the Tesco supermarket where they were pitched up
Police arrived at the car park yesterday evening and ‘enacted legislation for the travellers to leave’
Pictures from above show 10 caravans pitched up next to a playground in the park in a residential area of Littlehampton before heading to supermarket car park
‘Town council representatives have since inspected the park and confirmed that the area has been vacated.
‘The site has been checked and is now clean and open for public use.
‘We are currently collaborating with Boklok to install temporary concrete barriers within the next few days as an immediate security measure.
‘Work on more permanent preventative solutions will follow in due course.’
A spokesperson for Arun District Council told MailOnline that it was Tesco’s ‘responsibility to instigate the appropriate action’ as it is private land.
Yesterday, the council spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm that travellers have moved to the car park at Tesco, Littlehampton.
‘As this is private land it will be Tesco’s responsibility to instigate the appropriate action.’
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Tesco confirmed the store remains open as usual and that the caravans are no longer on site.
MailOnline has approached Currys and Wilkes for comment.
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