A BURGLAR was caught on CCTV smashing into a Tesco Express with a block of concrete to steal £175 worth of scratch cards.

The break in happened at the convenience store in Bromley Road, Colchester, at half past midnight on Saturday night.

In-store CCTV captured the hooded man swinging a lump of concrete and smashing the automatic door before kicking in the shattered glass.

Footage shows him heading straight for the scratch cards, ripping two dispensers of £100,000 prize Lotto cards from the counter and fleeing.

The empty dispensers were later found in a nearby street.

Store manager David Hurry and two other staff members were notified the shop alarm had been triggered and rushed to the scene.

He said: “You would have thought people were about at that time.

“You can see him going past the ice cream freezer with a hoody and gloves on and he just rips the scratch cards right off.

“Then he just goes straight out. Was it really worth it?

“The police attended and they had sniffer dogs out and they couldn’t have done much more.”

He added:“In the end we spent our Saturday night here. I can think of better ways to spend it.”

Police have made no arrests.

A spokesman said: “Police are appealing for witnesses after a burglary in Colchester.

“Officers were called to reports the Tesco store in Bromley Road had been broken into at around 12.30am on Sunday.

“Officers attended and found the front door had been smashed and two scratch card dispensers had been taken.

“Witnesses reported seeing two people running off towards Harwich Road.”

If you have any information, contact Pc Dan Thurston at Colchester Police Station on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 08000 555111.