Masked thieves strike again in Telford

A gang of masked thieves who have raided a string of newsagents and convenience stores across Telford and fled with thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes has struck again.

Detectives today revealed the latest burglary saw thieves break in to Sutton Hill Supermarket on Southgate, in Sutton Hill, at 1.30am yesterday. They fled with £300 worth of cigarettes.

In each of the 16 burglaries, which have taken place over the last four months, thieves have broken in through roller shutter doors and windows.

The burglars, two or three men wearing coats and balaclavas or hoodies to cover their faces, have arrived either on a motorbike or on foot for the early-morning raids.

Yesterday's raid came just five days after raiders targeted the Spar shop in Woodside and fled with £4,000 worth of cigarettes.

Detective Constable Jon Taylor, of the specialist operations unit at Telford police, said a team of officers was working on the hunt for the gang and CCTV footage was being studied.

He said the thieves must be selling the cigarettes and tobacco and urged anyone offered cheap products to come forward.

Mr Taylor said: "These incidents have been going on since July and since that time we have seen a small rise in the number of commercial burglaries involving newsagents or convenience stores in Telford.

"They are stealing a large number of cigarettes and tobacco using the same method each time.

"They prise open the roller shutter, break the window and climb through. There have been 16 incidents, some of which involve the same newsagents on more than one occasion."