Seven arrests after break-in at former supermarket

Seven people have been arrested after a break-in at a former supermarket in Mansfield.

Nottinghamshire Police said officers attended the closed B&M store, in Stockwell Gate, at about 22:00 GMT on Friday following reports a burglary was in progress.

The force said a group of offenders had entered the premises before filling a car with items and fleeing the scene. It added that about 100 carrier bags full of goods were found on a staircase just inside a fire exit to the building.

Three men, 26, 26 and 27, a woman, 23, and three boys, 15, 16 and 16, were arrested and bailed on suspicion of burglary and handling stolen goods.

The B&M store on the ground floor, alongside Bolek I Lolek Foods, and the British Heart Foundation, closed following the partial collapse of the Walkden Street car park at the end of August.

Mansfield District Council said in September inspections showed a full demolition of the site was needed "to prevent any further risk to the public and to prevent any future collapses".

The council said the site had an appropriate exclusion zone in place to mitigate any risk to the public until demolition takes place.

Police said officers traced the vehicle linked to the break-in to an address in Stanton Hill, Sutton-in-Ashfield.

When officers searched the property, they found about 40 further B&M carrier bags filled with new items in the basement.

Insp Katie Eustace said: "This building is currently derelict and unsafe, so I'd urge people to keep away from it.

"I'd also add that remaining stock is now being removed."

James Biddlestone, chief executive of Mansfield District Council, thanked police for their "swift action" and said the building remained "extremely dangerous" due to the collapse of the car park above.

"Our council staff and police colleagues continue to check the site at personal risk to make sure no-one is inside and we are grateful for their work.

"We urge people to stay away from the building and respect all fencing and warning signs," he added.

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