A GANG of five men broke into an Unsworth shop using a crowbar and stole cigarettes worth thousands of pounds.

Police were alerted to the break in at the Co-operative Food store, in Parr Lane, at 1.10am this morning (September 26). It is believed that the men used the crowbar to prise up the shop’s shutters and smash a front window.

An anti-theft smoke screen device was triggered which alerted the fire service, but the thieves were able to escape.

The Co-op said “considerable” damage was done to the shop front, and that it has handed over CCTV to the police for investigation.

A police spokesman said: “We believe there were up to five offenders who got away with large quantities of cigarettes.

“No arrests have been made at this stage and our investigations into this incident are ongoing.”

A spokesman for the Co-op added: “The store was closed at the time but CCTV footage has been given to the police, who are investigating.

“The store remained closed, as part of their investigation, and re-opened an hour late at 7am.

“We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience this may have caused.

“As with any incident such as this, we would appeal for anyone with information to come forward.” 

A resident of nearby Chadderton Drive, who did not wish to be named, said she saw a white van parked in the car park of the Co-Op at around 2am. 

She said: "I first woke up  because the dogs were barking, and I could hear male voices outside the Co-op. 

"They were being quite brazen, speaking loudly, but I just thought they were using the cash machine. 

"I looked out of the window and could see a white van parked sideways across the parking spaces.

"It is quite scary this has happened so close - what if they start targeting people's houses?" 

Anyone with information can call police on 101.