A convenience store near Preston suffered its second raid in four days when thieves stole up to £2,000 worth of cigarettes.
Pravin Patel, the owner of the Spar in Hennel Lane, Walton-le-Dale, is stepping up security after the latest attack.
This came days after a ram-raid at the store in which a cash machine was stolen.
Detectives believe those responsible for the lat
est raid may also have committed two other cigarette burglaries – one from the Texaco garage at Whittle-le-Woods, near Chorley, and the other at the Somerfield store at Eccleston, also near Chorley.
Spar owner Mr Patel said: "They grabbed between £1,500 and £2,000 worth of cigarettes after getting in.
"I have been here for 30 years and work 10 hours a day seven days a week, so why are they causing these problems for us and the customers? You could see them on camera, three of them aged between 15 and 20.
"They were white skinned but you could only see their eyes and nose, and their faces were covered with hoods and their coats."
He said he had since strengthened the metal shutters and improved security at the Spar since the latest two attacks.
Det Sgt John Wilkinson, from South Ribble CID, said a large quantity of cigarettes was taken from the three stores, but he was not connecting the incidents with the ram-raid.The ram-raid saw thieves drive through the front entrance of the store after forcing open the metal shutters.
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