A THIEF kicked in the front door of a shop before taking more than £5,000 of cash and cigarettes, police said.

Owner Sajid Patel said he was left devastated when he walked into Billington Village Store yesterday morning to find the damage.

No arrests have been made and police are yet to release a suspect description. But it is understood officers are studying CCTV footage in a bid to identify the culprits.

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And Mr Patel, 43, who has run the business in Bonny Grass Terrace with his wife Selma for three years, appealed for any witnesses to come forward and hit out at thieves for targetting his small business.

Mr Patel said: “I am very upset. There’s only one shop in the village and we’re just trying to help people, a lot of whom are elderly. People who have come in have been left angered by this.

“They have taken over £5,000 of cigarettes and cash. We’re a small family-run business and we can’t afford these kinds of losses.

“I just want these people caught and I would ask anyone who knows who did it to call the police.”

The shop was closed yesterday morning following the break-in just hours earlier at around 12.30am. However, it was open as usual later in the morning.

Customer Dale Bolton, 60, said: “Mr and Mrs Patel are devastated at the loss and how it will affect their small business. The thieves were caught on CCTV and anyone with any information should contact the local police.“We’re all shocked. Sajid is a really good bloke.

“We’re all giving him a great deal of moral support.

“The service here couldn’t be better. It’s like it was in the 1950s where customers are friends.”

Police urged anyone with information about the burglary to call 101.

A spokesman said: “We were called to Billington Village Store in Bonny Grass Terrace to reports of a break-in some time between 8.15pm on June 15 and 5.05am on June 16.“The suspect has gained entry via kicking in the front door before stealing over £5,000 of cash and cigarettes.

“Anyone with information should contact police.”

Anyone with information should call 101.