HUNDREDS of pounds worth of cigarettes were stolen from a Fenland supermarket overnight.

It is the second time in recent months that the Co-op store in Chatteris has been targeted by thieves.

Scenes of crime police are this morning at the supermarket investigating the burglary. Police were called via an alarm activating at 4am.

Chatteris resident Mark Burton visited the Co-op at about 8.45am today and saw the damage. He said: “There was glass jars of coffee smashed on the floor. That area is all taped off.

“There was a pallet of coffee near the window through which they broke in. I thought at first someone was trying to be funny and pulled one of the jars from the bottom, but then I turned around and noticed that the cigarette kiosk was also taped off.

“The shutter on the kiosk had been prised open with a crow bar and everything except the menthol cigarettes have been taken.”

He added: “It looks like they broke in by smashing the corner of a window at the front of the shop and crawling inside. When I left the store I noticed the window, which is laminated, had also been rolled back.”

A police spokesman said details at present are sketchy, but that forensic officers are at the scene investigating. The value of the cigarettes taken is currently unknown.

He said: “It happened in the very early hours of this morning so our investigations are continuing. We believe there was a recent incident of a similar nature there.

“We would also appeal for any witnesses with information to come forward.”

CONTACT: Police on 0345 456 4564 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.