Dawn raiders who smashed their way into Oxford Co-op to steal cigarettes now on the run

The brazen burglars broke through a window of the store in London Road, Headington, at about 4.20am and officers were on the scene minutes later.

Thames Valley Police has now revealed the thieves stole 'a quantity of cigarettes' then fled.

Oxford Mail photographer Andrew Walmsley took this photographs at the scene when he arrived at 8.30am.

A police car was stationed outside and officers cordoned off the scene after launching an investigation.

The store remained closed for the morning and reopened at 2pm.

Detective Constable Gareth Steward, of Oxford Investigation Hub, said: "I would like to speak to anyone who saw anything in the area at the time which may assist our investigation.

"It is believed a motor vehicle was used to get to and from the scene. I would like to speak to anyone who saw any vehicles which looked out of place or were being driven erratically in the area at time of this incident."

It comes after would-be thieves rammed a car into the side of Charlbury's Co-op in West Oxfordshire in an apparent attempt to get money out of the cash point.

The drivers used a stolen white Renault van and a silver Land Rover to force open the main entrance early on Tuesday morning but ended up leaving empty handed.

Anyone who has any information about today's burglary is asked to call Thames Valley Police on 101 and quote reference number 43180001863.