ABOUT £10,000 worth of cigarettes and tobacco had been stolen from the Waitrose supermarket off High Street, Wellington, last month.

It is believed the night-time raid, which took place on April 25, was carried out by a gang from Bristol and was among a number of similar burglaries.

PC Rob Wood told town councillors at their May meeting that CID was was investigating the theft.

He said crime in Wellington had jumped by more than 35 per cent during April, rising from 47 incidents to 64.

Assault cases had doubled to 14, thefts had gone up by five to 14, public order offences totalled four, which was three more, but domestic incidents – including arguments – had remained the same at eight.

There had been 30 calls to the police – seven more – about anti-social behaviour, mainly relating to children.