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| Shopping centre The Mall in Blackburn 'set on fire by burglars' | Shopping centre The Mall in Blackburn 'set on fire by burglars' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Burglars who broke into a shopping centre to steal from a jewellers also set an entrance on fire, causing "significant damage", police have said. | |
| Lancashire Police said up to eight men wearing balaclavas smashed into Chris Shan Jewellers in Blackburn's The Mall overnight using hammers and crowbars. | |
| They then set the Church Street entrance on fire at about 02:30 GMT. | They then set the Church Street entrance on fire at about 02:30 GMT. |
| A force spokesman said the men fled through an exit near County Hall with "an unknown quantity of jewellery". | A force spokesman said the men fled through an exit near County Hall with "an unknown quantity of jewellery". |
| Police are also exploring whether a second fire reported soon after the burglary, involving two burning cars at the Citroen garage on Throstle Street, could be linked. | Police are also exploring whether a second fire reported soon after the burglary, involving two burning cars at the Citroen garage on Throstle Street, could be linked. |
| Det Insp Tim McDermott said CCTV footage of the "well-planned" theft indicated "other offenders" may also have been involved. | Det Insp Tim McDermott said CCTV footage of the "well-planned" theft indicated "other offenders" may also have been involved. |
| Three areas of the shopping centre have been closed to allow Lancashire Police and the fire service to carry out investigations. | Three areas of the shopping centre have been closed to allow Lancashire Police and the fire service to carry out investigations. |