MORE than £1,200-worth of stock was stolen from the Cobo Village Centre after thieves smashed their way into the property.

About 300 packets of cigarettes were taken, as well as some 20 boxes of matches, 200 packets of Rizlas and 12 pouches of tobacco.

Owner Ralph Le Page (pictured) discovered the theft yesterday.

‘I arrived in the morning to find the upstairs door had been kicked in,’ he said. ‘I went into the stockroom and found glass all over the floor.’

The thieves are believed to have climbed onto the roof next door and scaled the tiles of the centre. There was damage to one Velux window where they had failed to get in. A second window had been smashed.

‘They nearly cleared us out of tobacco products,’ said Mr Le Page.

Mr Le Page believed the insurance company would cover the costs of the stolen items.

But it has left him wondering whether to keep stocking cigarettes.

‘We don’t make much of a profit, and when thieves come in, generally that is what they are after,’ he said.

Anyone with information about the break-in, between 6.30pm on Tuesday and 7.50am yesterday, should contact police on 725111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.