A gang of clueless thugs broke into a Tesco and raided a cigarette counter already emptied of cash by staff.
The group of hapless burglars broke into a Tesco supermarket and raided a cigarette counter before finding it had already been emptied by staff. Footage shows the three frustrated thieves struggling to break into the empty cabinets.
The thugs then walk off, appearing to talk to each other, before taking a crowbar to a till and taking what looks to be loose change. All three men wore masks and hoods to carry out the raid, which took place on New Year's Day at around 9.30pm.
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Police say the men cut a large hole in the fence to gain entry to a service yard at the rear of the shop before forcing a back door and entering the building, based on Chester Road in Helsby, near Ellesmere Port, reports Cheshire Live.
The trio then made for the cigarette counter. Unbeknownst to the thieves, the counter had already been emptied by staff. No doubt disappointed, the crooks consoled themselves by cracking open a till with a crowbar.
Footage shows one of the three, carrying material tied around his arms to carry the loot in, dropping some items from the till into the makeshift bag before the trio make their getaway.
Police say the men took "a small quantity of cash from the till". The unsuccessful raid lasted ten minutes, with the thieves escaping back through the hole in the fence.
Detective Constable Richard Connelley, of Chester Proactive Team, said: “This investigation is in its early stages and we’re following a number of lines of enquiry, including CCTV and forensics. We know that the men entered the site on foot via the service yard, however it is like that the trio arrived in the area in vehicle which they left in the nearby area.
“Therefore, as part of the investigation I’m keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident and believes they may have witnessed anything suspicious. I’m also urging residents in the nearby areas, including Chester Road, Callender Gardens and Longster Close, to check their CCTV and ring doorbells, to see if they have any footage of the men.
“The same goes for anyone with any dashcam footage. I urge anyone with any information, no matter how small, to call the team here at Chester on 101, quoting IML 1447377.”
Information can also be reported online at www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us or anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.
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