BUGLERS broke into a restaurant in the middle of the night and stole hundreds of...jelly beans.

The bizarre break-in happened at Giggling Squid in Market Street, Brighton, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Remarkably, nothing was taken other than the sweet treats.

Visitors to the Thai tapas chain, which started in Brighton, will know jelly beans are handed out with the bill - instead of the traditional mint imperials.

It is a quirky change from the norm which has proved popular with the restaurant’s loyal customers.

But it appears the jelly bean burglar couldn’t wait until morning for his sugar fix.

Andy Laurillard, co-founder of Giggling Squid, said: “This is up there with the top five strangest things I have encountered as owner of the restaurant.

“The cash till was empty so maybe they missed their main target, but there is a fridge full of alcohol right next to it.

“I wonder why they didn’t take some of that instead.

“Maybe it’s just someone that needed to get their sugar fix.”

The burglar is believed to have entered through a window. The damage was uncovered by a food supplier delivering goods at around 4.30am.

Mysteriously CCTV cameras were switched off at 12.51am and turned back on when staff arrived at 6.30am.

Mr Laurillard said: “Not in my wildest dreams did I think something like this could happen in Brighton. We have been burgled before, but not for our jelly beans.

“It is now a common occurrence that when the sun comes out our restaurant in Brighton is burgled.

“We long ago learned not to leave cash on the premises, but we never thought to lock the jelly beans in a safe – something we might have to do if this happens again.”

It is unknown whether the jelly bean thief acted alone or was aided by others.

Mr Laurillard said: “I am not sure who it could be – I wouldn’t like to speculate.”

Following the break-in staff at the Market Street branch had to gather emergency supplies from the sister restaurant in Hove.

Anyone with information about the jelly bean burglars should call Sussex Police on 101 quoting reference 47170086474.