POLICE are investigating an incident which took place in Basildon in the early hours of this morning, Monday 16 September.

Officers were alerted to a car being involved in striking a shop in Town Square shortly before 2am.

It was reported that a vehicle had crashed into the front of the premises and two men got out and took a number of items.

Both men then got back into the vehicle, which police believe to be a large, dark-coloured SUV-style vehicle, and the car left the area towards the market area, through St Martin's Square, towards Broadmayne.

The incident has caused substantial damage to the property and there remains a policing presence in the area today as the building awaits a structural inspection.

At this stage, no arrests have been made and police are following a number of lines of enquiry, including reviewing CCTV and identifying forensic opportunities.

Both men were wearing black hooded tops and black or dark-coloured tracksuit bottoms.

One man had white socks pulled over the tracksuit bottoms and white trainers whilst the other man was wearing black trainers.

Acting Detective Inspector James McLean-Brown said: "Our investigation into this incident is progressing at pace today and we're following a number of targeted lines of enquiry.   

"We're working determinedly to identify and arrest the people responsible for this.

"I would also ask for anyone who witnessed the incident or any suspicious driving in the area in the early hours of Sunday morning to please come forward and speak to us.

"You can let us know by submitting a report on our website where you can use our online Live Chat service available Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) between 10am-9pm.

"Visit https://www.essex.police.uk/digital101to find out more about our website reporting services. Alternatively, you can call us on 101.

"If you would like to make an anonymous report, you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers on Twitter at @CrimestoppersUK, by visiting their website or by calling 0800 555 111."