BALACLAVA-wearing thieves broke into a village shop and post office and made off with crates of brandy and whisky and tobacco.

The late night raid happened just before midnight at the West End Stores in Fownhope, between Ross and Hereford, on Friday, April 12.

West Mercia Police said high-end brandy and Jack Daniels were stolen after the burglars parked up near the village’s Scotch Firs at around 11.45pm.

They were then spotted walking around the outside of the premises before smashing their way inside.

The masked thieves, who wore gloves, also stole high-value tobacco products alongside other types of alcohol, and CCTV captured them leaving with their haul around 12.43am.

Officers added that no tools used in the break-in were left behind by the raiders.

PCSO Adam Westlake said: "Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact us online, quoting incident number 00072_I_12042024.”.

"If you aren’t comfortable contacting us directly, you can pass on information anonymously to the independent charity, Crimestoppers, by calling 0800 555 111 or by visiting their website at crimestoppers-uk.org

"Thank you for your help. It is only by the police and the public working together that we can prevent and detect crime."

See www.westmercia.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/ for advice on how to deter criminals.