Police are appealing for help after a raid at Budgen's supermarket in Maldon on Saturday.

It is the second raid to hit the High Street store in less than six months - this time around £2,000 worth of cigarettes were snatched.

Now the store is urgently reviewing its security measures after police officers were called to the supermarket at around 3.30am to discover the latest damage.

Sgt Richard Miller said: "It appears the lock had been hammered out at the front and an inside door had been kicked in and a large quantity of cigarettes were taken to the value of £2,000."

The thieves then made their exit via the fire doors at the rear.

Earlier this year, in June, more than £20,000 in cash and £12,000 worth of cigarettes were snatched in a midnight raid. Two giant concrete safes weighing about half a tonne each which were bolted to the floor were stolen along with their contents.

Maldon CID are not linking the two incidents.

Rod Alexander, Budgen's director of corporate communications said: "We will be reviewing our security procedures with some urgency with regard to this second incident."

Anyone with information on either of the two raids is asked to contact Maldon police on 01621 852255 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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