A Tesco car park has been thrown into chaos after a large group of travellers set up camp before harassing shoppers and stealing food from trolleys.
Police were initially alerted to the group after receiving reports of people entering residents' gardens, assaults and stones being thrown at Rosemead Park, a small green and play area nearby.
After being slapped with a dispersal order, the travellers moved on to the Tesco car park, just five minutes away.
The supermarket in Littlehampton, West Sussex, was then subjected to legions of motorhomes setting up camp outside - while police reported that the group also tried to gain entry into other vehicles., the Daily Mail reports.
After being slapped with a dispersal order, the travellers moved on to the Tesco car park (file photo)
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Officers arrived at the car park yesterday evening after receiving reports of criminal behaviour and "enacted legislation for the travellers to leave".
Littlehampton Town Council, which owns Rosemead Park, confirmed the group had departed following enforcement action by Sussex Police.
But the group's alleged criminal behaviour wasn't limited to the Tesco - police said they also received reports that the travellers damaged a fridge in a nearby Currys.
They also allegedly stole items from both Currys and Wickes.
Aerial photographs show some 19 caravans parked across several spaces in the car park, alongside numerous vans and cars.
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The encampment remained at the Tesco store throughout Wednesday after arriving in the morning
The encampment remained at the Tesco throughout Wednesday after arriving in the morning.
Police arrived at the car park on Thursday evening and took action to remove the travellers.
Sergeant Molly O'Malley at Sussex Police said: "We acted as swiftly as we could and thank the public for calling in as they really are our eyes and ears.
"We empathise with the residents, shoppers and businesses impacted by this antisocial and criminal behaviour.
"We took positive action and quickly enacted legislation for the travellers to leave. We will investigate any reports made to us, based on the evidence available."
Following the group's departure from Rosemead Park, the town council issued a statement confirming the area had been checked and was "clean and open for public use".
The council added: "We are currently collaborating with Boklok to install temporary concrete barriers within the next few days as an immediate security measure."
They also noted that "work on more permanent preventative solutions will follow in due course".
A spokesman for the larger Arun District Council stated that it was Tesco's "responsibility to instigate the appropriate action" - as the car park is private land.
Despite the disruption, a Tesco spokesman confirmed that the store and car park are still operating as usual.
