THE owner of a newsagents in Didcot is counting the cost after burglars smashed the shop’s windows and door.

K+K News in Brasenose Road was targeted at 11.30pm on Tuesday.

With the shop front damaged and cigarettes and alcohol stolen, it has left a bill of more than £5,000.

Shop owner Kevin Ritson said: “Two guys broke into my shop.

“They had a hammer and they tried to smash the two windows at the front. They didn’t get in that way but both windows now have hammer holes.

“Then they smashed the bottom glass pane of the door completely and crawled in.”

The 38-year-old said: “They managed to get into the cigarette gantry and stole half of the cigarettes in there, plus some whisky that was next to it.

“They were in and out in about 50 seconds.

“Thankfully we were closed so no one was hurt.”

The dad-of-four said: “Me and my wife Katy have owned the shop for about 11 years and we’ve never had a break-in before.

“It’s a bit disheartening. It’s deflating when people take the things you work hard for, it’s upsetting.

“The whole of the front windows will need replacing.

“That’s three big panes of glass so it will cost £5,000 easily.

“We had to close the cigarette gantry yesterday while police did their thing so we’re losing business that way too.

“It’s been a strange day.”

While there was CCTV in the shop, it is impossible to make out any details.

Footage shows men taking bottles of alcohol and putting them in a large bag before leaving the shop.

Mr Ritson said: “It’s just two guys, you can’t see much on CCTV. They’re just shadowy figures wearing gloves and baseball caps.

“They didn’t touch the till so I think it was just an opportunistic job rather than anything more organised or planned.”

More than 450 people have shared Mr Ritson’s story on Facebook after he appealed for help.

He posted: “If anyone knows or hears about anyone selling these items locally please let me know. I would put up a reward of cigarettes and whisky but I ain’t got none left.”

Police spokesman James Williams confirmed that they were investigating the break-in as a burglary.

He said no arrests had been made but asked that anyone with information should call 101.