Thieves’ hole in ceiling raid for £8,000 worth of cigarettes devastates Inverness shopkeeper

A local business owner in Inverness has spoken of his devastation after his shop was targeted in a highly planned and destructive overnight burglary. Thieves cut a hole directly through the ceiling of the property to bypass security and steal approximately £8,000 worth of cigarettes and tobacco products.

The break-in, which occurred during the night, was discovered by the shopkeeper when he arrived to open the store the following morning. He was met with debris from the ceiling scattered across the floor and empty shelves where the stock had been stored. The perpetrators appeared to have specific knowledge of the building’s layout, targeting the exact area above the tobacco gantry.

Police have launched a full investigation, with forensic officers examining the scene for DNA and toolmark evidence. The shopkeeper noted that the financial loss of the stolen stock, combined with the significant structural damage to the ceiling, has put a immense strain on his independent business. Local business associations have rallied around the owner, calling for increased patrols in the area and urging anyone with information about the sale of cheap or illicit cigarettes in the region to report it to the authorities.