Leigh Co-op in Leigh Road targeted by cigarette thieves

A burglary took place at the Co-op store, in Leigh Road, Leigh, on Friday around 12pm, when two thieves managed to steal goods from behind the shop’s counter.

Footage passed to the Echo by a shopper appears to show a theft taking place.

The eyewitness, who wishes to remain anonymous, had headed into purchase some food and at the time did not hear any sort of “commotion”.

Location - a Street View image of the co-op (Image: Google Maps)

After walking down the shop’s last aisle, the witness noticed other shoppers were waiting to use the cashier till to pay for their goods.

The witness claims a masked man pushed past others waiting in the queue and went behind the counter.

Alarmed, the witness then noticed a “man behind the counter” and the pair were seemingly “helping themselves to cigarettes”.

Staff members were standing to one side to avoid any risk of getting hurt.

The witness said: “It was quite surreal as I don’t recall hearing any shouting and they just walked out from behind the counter and exited the shop.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said:  “We’re investigating a burglary at a business premises in Leigh Road, Leigh.

Leaving - the video shows one person walking away after the incident (Image: Public)

“When one suspect asked a member of staff to get something, he went behind the counter and gathered a quantity of cigarettes.

“He was then helped by the second man to load the cigarettes into a bag, both men then left the shop.”

A person is seen behind the counter at the Co-op in Leigh (Image: Public)

The force has said that the first man is described as white, of medium build and approximately 5ft 10ins tall.

He was wearing a black Nike hooded top with grey sleeves and black hood, black tracksuit bottoms and grey shoes.

A person walks away from the counter at the Co-op in Leigh (Image: Public)

The second person of interest has been described as black, of slim build, and was wearing a black or navy-blue puffer coat with hood up and a black face covering.

He also had a black backpack and black tracksuit bottoms on.

No arrests have been made the police’s enquiries are ongoing.

You can find out how to make an online report by visiting essex.police.uk/digital101.

Alternatively, you can call  the police on 101 and you must cite the crime reference 42/50366/24.