Crowbar-wielding criminals smashed Seaham's Tesco window in early-morning break-in

Four suspects are believed to have pulled up in a dark hatchback with three breaking the store’s front window with crowbars.

Emergency services were called to a suspected burglary at 1.20am on Monday.

Witnesses reported seeing a smashed window at the store on Monday morning and the store was closed to customers throughout the day.

A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: “Police were called by the fire service to reports of a suspected burglary at the Tesco store, in Seaham, at about 1.20am.

“It is believed four suspects have pulled up in a dark hatchback, with three suspects breaking the store’s front window with crowbars.

“The store’s alarms were set off and the suspects made off empty handed.

“If you have any information, call 101 quoting incident reference 20 of November 25.”

The incident happened hours before police officers were called again to the scene, in a separate incident, after a man’s body was found in a car in the car park.

Police said the death of the man, who was in his 40s, is not being treated as suspicious.

Emergency services attended on Monday at 12.15pm following concerns for the welfare of a man found in his car at the rear of the store. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.