Thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes and scratch cards have been stolen after thieves broke in to a Dundee newsagents at the weekend.
Dozens of packets of cigarettes and more than 1,000 National Lottery scratch cards were taken in the raid, which it is believed happened in the early hours of Sunday morning at Coldside Newsagent.
It is believed thieves forced entry through a rear window at the prominent shop, which sits on the corner of Strathmartine Road and Francis Street, opposite the Strath Bar, after the shop closed for business around 7.15pm on Saturday.
The shop’s owner, who asked not to be named, said the break-in was only discovered when they opened up at 6am on Sunday and added the family-run business was put at risk by the theft.
She said: “The people who do things like this don’t realise the work we put in to the shop.
“We open at five or six in the morning and are open till seven or eight at night.
“The corner shop is very difficult these days. If things happen like that it just breaks your back and totally knocks you down.
“The police came and we think maybe a neighbour heard something, I don’t know.
“They took away our CCTV but I don’t know if that will show anything.”
A police spokesman said: “Officers from Police Scotland Dundee are appealing for information following the break-in at the shop at 186 Strathmartine Road, Dundee.”
Police say the incident happened between 7.15pm on Saturday and 12.30am on Sunday with “a large quantity” of cigarettes and Lottery scratch cards taken.
Anyone with any information relating to the incident or with knowledge of any of the property stolen should contact Police Scotland, Tayside Division, on 101, or speak to any police officer.
Alternatively information can be passed anonymously via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.