DETECTIVES are searching for three masked men who carried out a ram-raid on a family business in Strood.

Jassal's newsagents and store in Kitchener Road, was broken into during the early hours of Friday morning. Cabinets of cconfectionery, a unit containing hundreds of pounds worth of cigarettes and goods were thrown across the store.

The masked trio struck just before 5am and got away with packets of cigarettes and a handful of goods. The group broke into the store by ramming a fence pole into the front door, smashing the glass and security grill.

Once in, they ripped out one of several security cameras in the store to try and avoid detection. But police still hope CCTV footage will help identify the culprits

Despite being there for only minutes, the gang left a trail of destruction and a weekend clear-up ahead of owner Bahari Jassal and his family.

Mr Jassal, who has owned the store for more than 20 years said: "It makes me sick that it has happened. We have had it before, but not this bad and each time we have to upgrade the security, which costs a lot of money."

. The men were described as wearing dark clothes and driving an estate car, possibly a Montego or Ford Escort with a roof rack. Two were wearing hooded tops and another had a knitted hat on and each of them smoked.

Anyone with information about the incident, call Medway Police on 01634 884252.