Brazen Cigarette Thieves

THIEVES disturbed staff and customers by brazenly appearing to steal cigarettes from Leigh Road’s Co-op.

Video footage taken by a witness showed two individuals appearing to steal goods from behind the shop’s counter.

The witness, who did not want to be named, reportedly said that a masked man pushed past others waiting in the queue by the till and went behind the counter.

The witness then noticed a “man behind the counter” whilst pair were “helping themselves to cigarettes”.

Staff members of the Co-op reportedly stood aside to avoid any risk of getting hurt.

Despite ongoing police inquiries, no arrests had been made at the time of writing.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We’re investigating a burglary at a business premises in Leigh Road, Leigh.

“When one suspect asked a member of staff to get something, he went behind the counter and gathered a quantity of cigarettes.

“He was then helped by the second man to load the cigarettes into a bag, both men then left the shop.”

The first man is described as white, of medium build and approximately 5ft 10ins tall. He was wearing a black Nike hooded top with grey sleeves and black hood, black tracksuit bottoms and grey shoes.

The second person of interest has been described as black, of slim build, and was wearing a black or navy-blue puffer coat and a black backpack and black tracksuit bottoms. He had a hood up and a face covering.

Police enquiries are ongoing.

If you have any information, you can make an online report by visiting: essex.police.uk/digital101.

Alternatively, you can call 101 and cite the crime reference 42/50366/24.

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