Thieves smashed their way into a shop twice in one week.

Raiders hammered through a wall and used saws to cut through metal bars in two seperate raids on Brothers Retail in Western Road, Brighton.

The owner’s son Girgis Meckael said that the store’s entire stock of cigarettes was taken during the first break in on Wednesday night.

Five days later, just after the bosses had restocked, thieves cut away security bars on windows and made off with more cigarettes, cash, laptops and mobiles.

Speaking after yesterday morning’s raid, Mr Meckael said: “People broke in twice and stole lots of stuff.

“In the first one they smashed through the back door emergency exit. There were three locks on it so they smashed the wall to get the door open.

“The second time they broke in through the back window.

“There were metal bars on it but they cut through them.

“The first time they took all the cigarettes and cash.

“I don't know exactly how much it would be worth yet, but a lot, and it has happened twice in five days.” A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said it was too early to say if the burglaries are linked.

Anyone with any information on the burglaries should contact Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 5551111.