RAM raiders escaped with cigarettes but left their identities on CCTV when they smashed through the shutters of a Thurnscoe supermarket on Monday night.

“The pictures are so clear I’m sure the police will catch them,” said proprietor Harinder Khela, of the Food and Wine store in Houghton Road.

“We’ve been broken into so many times but I won’t give in and we shall be open this afternoon,” he said on Tuesday morning.

A black BMW 4x4 was used to ram the front shutter doors in the raid at 11.55pm on Monday. The thieves escaped with the empty till and cigarettes and drove off. The vehicle was spotted by police who followed them into the Goldthorpe area before losing them. It was found abandoned in Thurnscoe at 6.30am and was recovered for forensic examination.

“They always take cigarettes but we don’t any keep cash on the premises,” said Mr Khela, who had the store refurbished in January when he extended into the adjacent shop.

The store has been broken into six times and there have been two robberies since he took over three years ago, the last in October when three masked men burst in.

He said that they left behind their footprints and fingerprints as well as their CCTV images which were also caught at the filling station where they stole petrol.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information as to the indentity of the offenders should contact Barnsley police on 01226 736030 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 in strict confidence.