MASKED men smashed into a newsagents and stole cigarettes worth £2,500.
Two burglars forced the door of Frodsham News on Eddisbury Square, Frodsham, in the early hours of Tuesday.
CCTV cameras above a nearby off-licence captured the pair piling out of a people carrier before breaking a window in the door of the newsagents at 1.45am.
Police believe the raid could be linked to four heists on the Spar shop in Tarporley in the past month.
Frodsham News owner Les Shone was alerted by police after the burglars set off the shop’s alarm.
He said: “They took about £2,500 of cigarettes and some loose cash in the till. The police are looking at the vehicle in the CCTV to see if they recognise it.
“You can see them going down the alleyway, across the car park and coming in front of the shop. They were in and out in seconds. They badly damaged the cigarette display, emptied four middle shelves, grabbed what they could and left.”
Police arrived at 3.15am to survey the damage and by 6am, the shop was open for business.
Police investigator PC Ian Cuthbertson has not ruled out a link with similar crimes in Tarporley, where cigarettes have been stolen from shops.
“There are houses and flats that overlook the square,” he said. “We are examining CCTV from the surrounding shops.
“We appeal to anyone who may have heard or seen a vehicle at the time to call 01244 612543 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”
