A GANG of thugs threatened a pizza delivery man with a baseball bat, made off in his car and then carried out three ram-raids in the stolen vehicle.

The delivery man was dropping off a pizza in Carnation Road, Strood, at about 9.30pm on Wednesday.

He was threatened by the three men with a baseball bat, before one punched him in the face.

The gang then smashed the rear window of the vehicle, a Peugeot 206, registration number T379 W00, and then drove away.

Then, in the early hours of the next morning just after 1am, the car was driven into Bradfords Garage in Sharnal Street, High Halstow. The raiders got away with a small number of cigarettes.

About an hour later, at around 2am, the same car was driven into the front of the Post Office in Higham, and again a number cigarettes were taken.

Some 20 minutes later they again drove the car into the front of the Nimraj Mini Market, in Bill Street Road, Frindsbury, near Strood.

The front door was smashed but the raiders left empty handed. The gang then drove the car along Brompton Farm Road where the driver lost control and crashed the it. The three then ran off.

Acting Det Sgt Mick Patterson said: “We are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed any of the incidents or who may have seen the car between the time it was stolen and used in the first theft to contact us as a matter of urgency.

“The back window of the car had been smashed and we believe that someone must know where it had been parked during the evening.”

Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed any of the incidents or who may have seen the black Peugeot – registration T379 W00 – earlier in the evening to contact Medway Police on 01634 884252 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.