A TILEHURST shop has been raided for the 'third time in 12 months' on the same night as a violent brawl broke out between men brandishing knives. 

In two separate episodes within the space of 12 hours, police were called to chaotic disturbance in Eddleston Way before returning to a robbery. 

Two people were arrested following a fight between a group of men with weapons that left neighbours and nearby residents shocked. 

A shopkeeper, who works at the Spar on Spey Road, said: "It heard it was terrible. The place was surrounded by police." 

Thames Valley Police Inspector Elliot Male said it was a "concerning incident" and said the force has increased stop-and-search powers in a bid to curtail the violence.

Insp Male said: "We have put a Section 60 order in place which means our officers will have increased powers. Because of this, people may see more officers in the area. Please try not to be concerned." 

Just hours after the brawl, police were back in Tilehurst after School Road Post Office was broken into in what is being described as the third incident in 12 months. 

Robbers forced their way into the store, smashing up the door and windows in their wake. 

According to local sources, the suspects stole a large amount of e-cigarettes and vapes but failed to break into the safe. 

When The Chronicle visited the scene on Wednesday morning, the pavement was covered in broken glass while a large rock was spotted on the pavement.

The shop had been cordoned off while police carried out their investigations. No arrests have been made. 

Neighbouring shopkeepers said it had left them feeling unsettled. Richard Kemp, owner of the Tilehurst Cobbler, said: "It is quite a shock. For some reason, that shop keeps getting targeted. You don't expect something like this to happen in a quiet place like Tilehurst.

"It is unsettling because things like this didn't used to happen. A lot of people seem to think it is some kind of gang that comes out every now and then to target [Tilehurst]."  

Jay Lloyd, manager of Co-op on School Road, said: "It seems to be one of the only shops that is targeted in Tilehurst and I think that may be because there are no shutters and it is easy to break the glass doors.

“You would expect the shop next door would be easier to break into but because they have shutters, it makes it harder to get in.”

In response to the two incident, Spar has hired full-time security guards.

Speaking to the Chronicle, the security guard said: "It is a very rough area. There hasn't been any knife crime for a while but the area is very popular for drugs.

"During the day it isn't too bad but in the evening all the bad people come out."

A grandfather, who didn't want to be named, added: "This street [Eddleston Way] is a hotbed for anti-social behaviour.

He added: "It’s a 20 mph road but we constantly get cars and scramble bikes speeding around the area causing trouble. The drug dealers come around at 8am and they don't care."

Police said they will up patrols in response.