POLICE are on the hunt after a masked thief broke in to an Ardrossan shop in the early hours of this morning (Thursday, August 1).

Around 2am, the thief, who is pictured with his head covered and wearing a pair of gloves, smashed a window at the side of South Beach Stores in the town and forced his way in before fleeing with the till and its contents. 

Debbie McNeil, who runs the cabin with her partner Owen, was relieved that none of the staff or customers were in at the time of the break-in but said that the staff were “a wee bit shaken up”.

She told the Herald: "It could have been much worse. I’m glad it happened during the night when nobody was in. Nobody was hurt but it’s still the thought of someone coming in.

“It wasn’t that much in the till, I think it’s about £70-£80 he’s got away with.

“Even if they stole every single thing in the whole shop it would be still the same feeling – it’s the thought of somebody doing that to you.”

Debbie said that she thinks the thief might have used a piece of wood to prise open the shutter before making his way in by smashing the window. She also reckons that the thug has pulled across one of the café’s sheltered seats to shield him from passers-by.

She said: “I think he’s moved that to cover him up in case anyone’s driven by. The glass was everywhere.”

While Debbie is confident that insurance will cover the damage caused by the thief, she said: “It’s more the disruption. You’re open and trading. I just got so angry. You work hard to provide for your family.”

A spokesman for Police Scotland said: "At 6.31am on Thursday, August 1, police were called to the report of a break in at premises in South Beach Road, Ardrossan. Officers attended and enquiries continue.

"Police are appealing for witnesses and ask that anyone with information please contact 101 quoting incident number 0634 of August 1 2019."