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National

WA police investigating two ram raids on Carnarvon stores as business owners count costs

The damage bill following the ram raid at the Carnarvon supermarket is estimated to be at least $50,000. (Supplied)

A Carnarvon supermarket owner has only had his business for three weeks, but in that time there have been three major incidents. 

In the most recent, Craig Becker's store was ram raided in the early hours of Monday morning, with a stolen car used to slam into a side wall. 

"The first week we had an ATM smashing inside the shop, and that's not been working for two weeks now while we wait for parts," he said.

"Last week they broke in, smashing in the back window and jumping through and they got coins and smokes and drinks.

"This week, obviously, they've ram raided through the brick walls."

Increased security

Mr Becker said while only a small number of items were stolen in the latest break-in, it is expected to cost at least $50,000 to repair because of the structural damage to the wall.

He said he would be putting additional security measures in place.

"You've got to enforce everything now; you've got to put bollards so they can't drive through things," he said. 

"We're looking to upgrade around every door, entrance, vent, everything, it's getting beyond the joke." 

The new owners of the Carnarvon supermarket say the ram rain is the third incident in three weeks. (ABC Pilbara: Rosemary Murphy)

Senior Sergeant Mark Ardley alleged the stolen car was later used in a ram raid on an office equipment store in the centre of town.

"They've used that same vehicle and ran into the rolling shutter up there, which was over the windows, providing them access into the property, where they've stolen a number of iPhones and other electrical equipment."

Police said the ram raids happened between 1am and 2am on Monday and have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

The Carnarvon office supply shop was shut for the day following the break-in. (ABC Pilbara: Rosemary Murphy)

Police priority

Senior Sergeant Ardley said the car had been stolen from a residential property, and later abandoned and set alight in the Brockman area.

"I'm not saying it doesn't happen, or it hasn't happened in the past but this is certainly out of the ordinary for Carnarvon," he said.

"We are throwing all our resources at it." 

Senior Sergeant Mark Ardley says local police have asked for additional resources to assist with the investigation. (ABC News: Kate Ferguson)

"We're actually trying to get some extra additional resources up here to try and jump on it as quick as we can."

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