The Rowcroft Hospice shop in Queen Street, Newton Abbot, has been targeted by a smash and grab thief for a second time this year. It first suffered an attack in February, when a stone was lobbed through the window and a collection of Toby jugs stolen from the display. The latest incident occurred at around 3am on Wednesday and has cost the charity nearly £570 in repairs and lost stock. It is not known if the two incidents are connected. Manager Margaret Barker told this newspaper she was called out to the shop after the alarm was raised by a nearby shop owner who was working late. 'The man heard a crash and looked out to see a woman running away,' she said. 'Only she came back again and when the police caught up with her she had a shopping trolley and in it were some shoes, a hat and bits of broken pottery as well as a large stone. 'Apparently, when police asked her what she was doing out at that time she said she'd missed her last bus home. I'm not sure what was going on, but it all sounds as if it could be a bit sad to me.' Police confirmed that a woman was interviewed after the incident and released on bail pending further enquiries.
