AN investigation is continuing into a smash-and-grab raid that saw a haul of cigarettes stolen from a Southampton convenience store.

As reported in the Daily Echo, a gang of three men forced their way in through the front door at Premier in Park Road, Shirley, and in a matter of minutes made off with all the cigarettes from the counter.

Police were alerted by a member of the public who heard the store’s alarm ringing and called 999 in the early hours of Tuesday.

But when they arrived at the scene the thieves had fled, making their getaway on a motorbike believed to have travelled towards Shirley.

Officers have spent the past three days carrying out inquiries and searching the area following the raid at 3.41am.

Anyone with information about the raid is asked to call police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.