Police cordon off raided petrol station

Members of staff at the Ledbury Road Texaco station were kept out of the building when they arrived for work at 5.30am, and the shop was closed to the public.

A police spokesperson said officers were called to the north Hereford petrol station in the early hours of the morning, after the shop's alarm was triggered at 2.58am.

"We believe tobacco has been stolen," the spokesperson said. 

"The investigation is under way."

Shop manager Umakaran Kanapathipillai said three people were captured on CCTV breaking in through the front door of the shop after pulling up on the forecourt in a car just before 3am.

There were no members of staff on the premises at the time, which is open from 5am to 12am, he said.

The intruders were then seen on the film filling a large bucket with cigarettes, tobacco and spirits, Mr Kanapathipillai said, before fleeing the premises with the goods.

"They took only high value items," he said. 

The value of the items taken is not yet known, but Mr Kanapathipillai plans to do a full stocktake later today after a forensic investigation is completed.

The store and forecourt reopened to the public on Tuesday afternoon after the forensic investigation was completed.

Forensic investigators are currently on scene. Photo: Rob Davies

Photo: Jo Jackson