A thief used a brick to smash his way into a Moray shop before making off with alcohol.
A man masked with a hood and jacket broke into the Co-op store on Thornhill Road in New Elgin after repeatedly battering the glass for about two minutes.
The robber broke a hole in the glass sliding door before squeezing himself through the diminutive gap.
Yesterday customers were surprised to see the entrance of the store boarded up as they arrived for their shopping.
Supervisor Stuart Mouncher was the first employee at the scene when he arrived to open the shop for the day.
He said: “When I came in I saw the shop all boarded up with a note from the alarm company. They had cleaned up a bit but there was still glass everywhere.
“It was strange watching the footage back and seeing how he had got in. He squeezed through a hole in the glass but it looked like he didn’t even get cut.”
It is believed the thief made off with five bottles of spirits worth £60 when they broke in at 1.30am on Boxing Day.
Last night police confirmed they were investigating the incident.
A spokesman said: “We responded to information about a break-in that was on-going at the property. The front door was damaged when we arrived and we carried out appropriate inquiries.”
Anyone with information should call police by phoning 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
