A MASKED thief snatched an e-cigarette display worth close to £2,000 from a convenience store before fleeing on an escooter from staff.

Costcutter in Furtherwick Road, Canvey, was targeted by the crook around 9.30pm on Tuesday and police are urging witnesses to come forward.

It comes just days after reports £600-worth of items, including vaping equipment and a display cabinet, were snatched from Bargain Booze, also on Canvey in Long Road.

The shop owner of Costcutter, who gave his name as Vjsi B, has revealed fears crooks will now be targeting convenience stores across the island.

Describing the theft, he said: “Two people were hanging about outside the shop and one man came into the store and took the whole e-cigarette stand full of stock.

“The stand is worth about £1,000, the stock is worth about £700, and it was all taken.

“It was on the till and it all happened so quickly.

“A staff member did try and chase them but they were on e-scooters so the staff couldn’t catch them.

“It was one woman worker in the store at the time and was a bit shaken at the time but she’s doing OK now.”

The 52-year-old described the ordeal as “terrible” and admits he is unsure if the family-run shop will be able to recover the stolen items.

He added: “I am very angry about this, the shop is our live and is a family run business and we are a small business too.

“It feels like someone’s taken part of our life and I do not know if we will recover the money for the stolen items.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “We were called to Furtherwick Road on Canvey at 9.30pm on Tuesday following reports of a man shoplifting.

“The suspect is described as having blonde hair, around 5ft in height.

“He was wearing a mask.

“No arrests have been made at this stage but enquiries are ongoing.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101 and quote reference number 42/221227/22.

We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.

Please report any comments that break our rules.

Are you sure you want to delete this comment?

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here

© 2001-2022. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. A Gannett Company. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. HP10 9TY. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |

Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event.

As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles.

Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services.

These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local community.

It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times.