CCTV footage showing a town centre newsagent being burgled has been released.

Cash, cigarettes, newspaper vouchers, an iPad and charity collection tin, worth at least £1,500 in total, were taken from Carter’s Newsagents in Market Street, opposite the Guildhall.

The thief entered by removing a narrow glass pane from the shop’s front door in the early hours of last Thursday.

Images show the suspect, who was wearing a hoodie and carrying a plastic yellow bag, handing the items to an accomplice waiting outside.

Owner Jitendra Patel, 57, who has run the shop with his two sons for four years, discovered the damage when he arrived for work at 5.10am on Thursday morning.

The break-in took place at about 12.15am, but the shop’s alarm system did not sound, so police did not arrive until Mr Patel called the next day.

Mr Patel, who lives on Whitstable Road, said that a glass pane was missing and that a brick had been left behind.

He said: “I can’t understand how they got in from the door so quickly. I’m really upset. This is a really nice town.”

Among the items taken was a collection tin for a Hindu temple in Watford.

Mr Patel said: “They should know that it is a charity box. Why are they nicking a charity box?”

Fellow town centre traders have been sharing CCTV footage of the break-in via Facebook in an effort to find the two suspects.

Kev Moon runs Ollie Bongo’s Pet Essentials in Market Place, opposite Carter’s.

He said: “I find it bizarre that people came into a premises from a front door at midnight and no one noticed. There would have been people leaving pubs and restaurants. They clearly had been in there and worked out where everything was.

“I’m angry about it because if you own a business, everything in that business is your property.

What right has anybody got to take your property?

“We are sharing the CCTV to find the culprit and bring them to task.

“Someone, somewhere will be trying to sell that stuff so they may get caught that way.”

A police spokesman said: “Police are investigating a report that a shop was burgled in Market Place, Faversham, overnight on Wednesday, January 31, and Thursday, February 1.

“Officers have attended the premises and are continuing to conduct inquiries.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 01795 419119 quoting 01-0126, or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.