Determined crooks dug a hole through a wall in the back of a Paisley shop before stealing thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes.
The thieves smashed through brick work and plasterboard to get inside the Speedy Mini Market, in Causeyside Street, before emptying the cigarette kiosk.
Debris from the wall was left strewn across the shop floor when shocked workers arrived to open up on Wednesday morning.
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The suspects also removed the CCTV system in a bid to thwart police efforts to identify them.
The value of the cigs stolen is believed to be around £2,500.
The shop worker, who asked not to be named, told the Express: “I came in and found the hole at the back. They had made a mess.
“I’m not sure how they did it. They emptied every drawer of cigarettes and took cash.
“It’s pretty crazy that they did this. We have only had the shop four months.”
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “A number of items were stolen during the incident, which happened overnight between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.
“Our enquiries are continuing.”
Last December, a similar break-in was reported at the Ten O’Clock Shop, in Paisley’s Wellmeadow Street.
The crooks tunnelled through a brick wall and stole booze and cash.
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
