Appeal after cigarettes and tobacco worth £15,000 stolen from supermarket lorry

Officers are appealing for information after almost 200 packets of cigarettes and tobacco worth £15,000 were stolen from a supermarket lorry which had stopped at traffic lights in Stoke-on-Trent.

Officers were called at 11.40am to Leek Road, Shelton, on Wednesday 9 February following reports of vehicle crime.

Offenders had, about 40 minutes earlier, opened a padlock to access the rear of the lorry while it was stationary at the traffic lights at junction of Leek Road and Cauldon Road.

The thieves had managed to climb into the lorry to access a total of 190 packets of cigarettes and tobacco.

The stolen items included:

- 23 types of cigarettes
- 14 types of rolling tobacco
- Two types of cigars
- Five types of cigarette papers
- Three types of e-cigarette liquids
- 24 lighters

The brands of the stolen cigarettes included: Sovereign Superking Blues and Duals, Rothmans Blue and Superking, Embassy Signature Golds, LB Blue Real Blue, Richmond Superkings Real Blue, Lambert Butler Original and Silver, Players Real Red, JPS Players Green, Embassy Number 1, Pall Mall Shift, Windsor Blue, Mayfair Sky Blue, Carlton Original, Sterling Dual and Kingsize, Benson Hedges Blue and John Player Special.

Variations of Cutter’s Choice, JPS Players, Golden Virginia, Gold Leaf, Amber Leaf, Riverstone, Sterling and GV Bright Yellow were the types of tobacco taken along with Swan regular and menthol filters.

The lorry padlock was also taken by the offenders.

The driver of the lorry was alerted to the theft by another passing driver.

No one was injured.

Officers are currently reviewing CCTV footage of the area at the time and ask anyone who may have information or relevant dashcam footage to get in touch.

Anyone who is approached to purchase cigarettes or tobacco of unknown origin is also asked to get in touch.

Contact Staffordshire Police on Facebook, Twitter, or call 101, quoting incident number 241 of 9 February.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.