Police are investigating an early morning “smash and grab” at an Aberdeen pharamacy.
A masked man used a blunt object to get into the Brian A Christie pharmacy in Bucksburn, leaving the glass front door shattered.
He stole a few items before making his getaway in a beige car driven by a woman.
Superintendent pharmacist Andrew Wilson, who manages the store along with two other in the north-east, admitted it could have been far worse but hopes the CCTV footage will help officers track down the culprit.
He said: “It looks like the person has smashed through the front door with an object like a hammer, as there was glass everywhere this morning.
“The alarm went off as soon as he broke in, and police arrived on the scene within 10 minutes, so the person was not in the pharmacy for very long.
“We’ve got quite extensive CCTV in operation at the pharmacy, so the police will be using that and hopefully the man is tracked down very soon.”
The break-in happened just before 6am.
It is believed the man tried to gain entry to the pharmacy via the rear entrance but failed and instead targeted the glass front door.
Mr Wilson labelled the crime “opportunistic” as the thief did not seem to target anything in particular.
He said: “My initial reaction towards this is that it was an opportunistic crime, as it wasn’t a focused attack, it was a smash and grab.
“If they had planned this, they would have tried to grab the more expensive items, such as the controlled and subscribed drugs.
“It seems like someone had a hammer and an inclination to rob the shop.”
Police sealed off the shop for forensic examinations. It reopened at 2pm.
It is not known what items were stolen.
Mr Wilson added: “I got woken up by a phone call today at about 6.20am by the pharmacy’s keyholder which was a bit like a rude awakening.
“I can only assume they tried to break in under cover of darkness but then again at 5am, 6am the sun is starting to come up so it is a strange time to try it.”
Inspector Graeme Penny appealed for anyone with information to come forward and said: “Around 6am on August 27, officers were called to the Sclattie Park area of Aberdeen, following a break-in to a pharmacy, which took place shortly beforehand.
“Inquiries have established that the suspect was a man, who was seen leaving the area in a beige coloured car, being driven by a woman.”
Anyone with information should call 101.