Thieves steal 5,000 packets of cigarettes from Selsdon newsagents

By Anna Edwards

anna.edwards@essnmedia.co.uk

Masked thieves have raided a Selsdon newsagents - and made off with 5,000 packets of cigarettes.

Natubati Patel, owner of Tudor Library, in Addington Road, says his shop was broken into at around 4am on Sunday morning.

The yobs ransacked the shop and made off with around £500 from the tills and an entire wall of cigarettes.

Mr Patel, who has owned the shop for 24 years, said: "This is the first time this has ever happened.

"We are a family business, and we have lost trade because there are no cigarettes to buy - they took the lot.

"I hope the police catch them - it is mindless what they have done."

The intruders managed to open the shop's shutters and get inside the shop without triggering the alarm.

Mr Patel said: "They knew what they were doing, they managed to get inside and completely avoid the alarm.

"You can see on the CCTV their car outside and them coming in, in their masks.

"It was the lady who lives above the shop who heard a bang - she was the one who raised the alarm.

"They must have known how to get about without triggering the alarm system.

"I hope other businesses around here are being wary."

The value of the cigarettes is estimated at around £8,000.

Mr Patel added: "I know people love their cigarettes, but who needs to take 5,000 boxes?

"They cleaned out my entire wall, there is nothing left, I have nothing to sell.

"They also damaged my three tills and took about £500 from the trays.

"It is bad enough that the roadworks in Addington Road are slowing up business, but to have this as well is just too much, I'm very unhappy about the whole thing."

DC Malcolm Duncan slammed the heartless thieves.

He said: "It must be devastating for the owners of this well-thought of newsagents to have been targeted in this way.

"I am appealing to anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious to contact police."

No arrests have so far been made in the case. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Croydon police on 0208 649 1237.