A LIMPING man and three partners in crime broke into a supermarket in Helsby to steal 'a large quantity' of cigarettes.

Detectives are now appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage following the burglary which took place at around 12.50am on Tuesday, November 19.

Four men, one of whom was said to be limping, used a crowbar to force open the front doors of Tesco on Chester Road, according to Cheshire Police.

Once inside the store the men raided the tobacco counter.

They then fled the store at around 1am in a white hatchback car, travelling along the A56, Chester Road, towards Runcorn.

Enquiries in relation to the burglary are ongoing and officers are a keen to hear from anyone with any information in relation to the incident.

Detective Constable Sophie Pennington, from Chester CID, said: “This investigation is currently in its early stages and we’re following a number of lines of enquiry, including CCTV and forensics.

“As part of my investigation I’m keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident and believes they may have witnessed anything suspicious.

“I also want to hear from anyone with a dashcam who was driving in the area between 12.30am and 2am on Tuesday 19 November and may have recorded the offenders travelling to, or fleeing, the store.

“The same goes for any residents with CCTV cameras who live in the area and believe they may have footage of the car travelling past their homes.

“I urge anyone with any information, no matter how small, to call the team here at Chester on 101, quoting IML 568465.”

The burglary follows on from a similar incident which occurred at the Spar Store on Tarporley High Street on Saturday 16 November. At the current time officers are keeping an open mind as to whether the two are linked.

Information can also be reported online at www.cheshire.police.uk anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.

Dashcam footage can be submitted online via the Cheshire Police website.