Ram-raiders wreak £50,000 damage at petrol station

This is the scene of devastation after ram-raiders destroyed a petrol station kiosk in Tipton causing £50,000 worth of damage – closing the station at a time when panic-buying customers are flocking to forecourts.

The three thieves used a stolen car to drive into the kiosk at Asda in Wednesbury Oak Road.

The Mitsubishi Shogun they used had been stolen from Dudley earlier that day.

A petrol tanker driver, who was going to refuel the petrol reserves, saw the men and immediately called police.

The men reversed the Shogun into the kiosk, which obliterated the building and caused it to collapse in the raid at around 3:20am on Tuesday.

The petrol station safe became buried in the rubble and despite their best efforts to retrieve it, the men got away on foot empty handed before police arrived.

Det Sgt Mike Greenland from Force CID said: "We are following up a number of leads and forensic opportunities but also need the public's help to try and find these men.

"Although they appear to have gotten away empty handed, they caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage and we need to find them and bring them to justice."

One of the men is described as around 5ft 8ins tall. He wore a light grey hooded jacket, a black balaclava and dark bottoms.

Jo Newbould PR Manager at Asda said the petrol station is currently closed, and the kiosk will have to be demolished.

She said: "The incident is in the hands of the police and we're doing everything we can to support their investigation.

"It's disappointing that we can't sell low-priced fuel when our customers need us most."

Anyone with information should call Force CID on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800555111.