DEVIZES police are urging people to call them immediately they see an act of lawlessness in the town, rather than assume that someone else will ring 999.

They issued their appeal after thieves who raided Devizes Motor

Panels in Sidmouth Street at 11.25pm on Sunday night got away because no one alerted them at the time.

The raiders used a brick to smash the shop window and steal boxed items including a car polisher, a floodlight, a tool kit and a car vacuum cleaner.

Although the shop's burglar alarm was ringing out, the police received no calls from local people and it was not until the following morning that residents came forward with information about the crime.

Sgt Andy Peach said: "People think that, because the alarm is ringing, the police are bound to hear it. But we might be miles away dealing with another incident.

"Because the inquiry office, which is manned by civilian staff, is closed after 8pm, people think there is no one here, but nothing could be further from the truth.

"There is someone at Devizes police station 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Had someone called us when the raid was in progress, we could have caught them red-handed. As it is, it could be some time before we apprehend them."

The loot from the raid was found in the car park of the Hare and Hounds pub, no more than 150 yards away. It is thought the thieves were disturbed by someone who shouted at them, but again no one rang the police about it until the following morning.

In a separate incident, a resident of the Market Place, who has asked not to be named, saw a fracas outside her flat about 8pm on Monday night.

She said: "A group of kids, about 14 or 15, were pushing against the bus shelter outside the carpet shop. They tore metal window bars off the front of Parnella House and were smashing the bus shelter with them.

"I phoned the police but they told me they were busy. I rang again later and said, if you come now you will catch them."

Eventually the police did arrive but by then most of the group, five boys and two girls, had moved off.

Devizes police can be contacted on (01380) 722141.