POLICE are investigating after raiders stole between £100-£200 worth of cigarettes on breaking into the One Stop Shop in Chester Road, Helsby, overnight last Friday (DEC 14).

They smashed their way in through the front door. Police were alerted about 8.15am on Saturday morning.

A One Stop spokesman said: “A gang made off with a reasonably large amount of cigarettes after breaking in the middle of the night. We are reviewing security.”

The store was targeted back in October when £1,400 worth of cigarettes were taken in an early-hours smash and grab raid.

DS Steve Birkett, of Cheshire Police, is “99% certain” an Ellesmere Port gang is responsible for this crime and a number of similar raids on convenience stores across the area.