Police are appealing for information after two convenience stores in Christchurch were raided on consecutive nights and around £8,000 worth of cigarettes stolen in total.

Burglars smashed their way into the Premier Convenience Store on Jellicoe Drive at around 4am Thursday, Oct 17 and made off with approximately £4,000 worth of cigarettes. It follows a similar break-in at Central Convenience Store in Bure Lane at around 12.30am on Wednesday.

Police say, again, approximately £4,000 worth of cigarettes were stolen from the premises.

Karolina Kowalczyk, store manager at Central Convenience Store, said she arrived at work on Wednesday morning to find the shop cordoned off.

“I arrived at around 5.30am and the police were already here,” she said.

“I didn’t have a clue what had happened. I live at the back of the shop and didn’t hear anything.”

Ms Kowalczyk said thieves smashed the top part of the front door of the shop, which belongs to the WS Retail Ltd chain, and stole hundreds of packets of cigarettes.

“You don’t expect it in a close community like this,” she added “It is a big worry for us and it’s not the first time it’s happened. Let’s hope the police catch them before it happens again.”

She said the store did have CCTV but the cameras were faulty at the time of the break-in. Following the burglary, new surveillance cameras have been fitted.

Police are appealing for anyone with information about either break-in to come forward and are urging shopkeepers to ensure their premises are kept secure.

A spokesman from Dorset Police said: “If anyone feels they have any information that may assist with our enquiries, they are asked to call 101.”

He added: “Can shopkeepers of these or similar stores, please ensure their businesses are secure at all times, and relevant or additional security measures are undertaken.”

Petrol station also hit

Police are investigating a separate burglary at a petrol station in Swanage during the early hours of Wednesday.

Thavam Thavarajah, owner of the Triangle Garage on Victoria Avenue, said around £6,000 worth of cigarettes and a safe containing approximately £4,000 in cash were stolen after thieves smashed a panel in the door and disabled the alarm.

Yesterday, a spokesman from Dorset Police said no arrests have been made. Anyone with information is urged to call 101.