Newsagent’s appeal after £10,000 raid

Photo: Picture: CHRIS SUNDERLAND

BARE shelves. Mohammed Sajid (right) and brother Mohammed Azad.

Fellow traders urged not to buy stolen cigarettes

A NEWSAGENT is appealing for shopkeepers not to buy cut-price cigarettes after 2,000 packets were stolen in a smash-and-grab raid at his business.

Raiders took cigarettes worth £8,000-£10,000 from Newsplus, Rochdale Road, Royton. They ripped down a shutter and removed a window to get into the shop, tripping a CCTV camera as they made several trips to and from the cigarette display.

Now owner Mohammed Sajid is offering a £500 reward in a bid to catch those responsible.

He fears that other corner shops will buy the cigarettes and said: “There is absolutely no doubt they will sell them to other shopkeepers.

“There is no way they will smoke them themselves or sell them in pubs. There are too many, it will take them too long.

“Every retailer needs to look at their conscience and think, ‘if I was burgled, how would I feel?’. They have got to be a bit more responsible and help the police in putting a stop to this supply and demand.

“If they did not buy these cigarettes in the first place then shops wouldn’t be burgled. If someone comes into a shop offering cigarettes, there’s no way they have come from a legitimate source.” Between £200 and £250 was also taken in the break-in at 3.20am on Sunday and police were on the scene within minutes.

Mr Sajid’s brother, Mohammed Azad, is a partner in the shop and the family also has Express News on Middleton Road, Royton.

They have been in business in the town for about 15 years and have been targeted four or five times. On one occasion a hapless raider was caught after he made his getaway in a taxi.

But Mr Sajid said: “It doesn’t put me off. It is frustrating and annoying, but unfortunately it is just part of business. You have just got to shrug your shoulders and be positive.

“You can’t let it get to you or you have lost out twice: you have lost out financially and it affects your health.”

People with information should contact Oldham police on 0161-872 5050 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555111.