Merchandise valued at about £15,000 has been stolen from an international e-cigarette headquarters in Whitstable.

Vape and Juice sells electronic cigarettes and liquid that is used in them, both online to customers across the UK and Europe and at its shops across the UK.

But on Monday morning when employees arrived at the firm's head office on the Joseph Wilson Industrial Estate in Millstrood Road, they found the building looted and a large quantity of high-end merchandise missing.

Initial findings indicated about £2,000 worth of wares had been stolen.

But Robb Riddle, a manager at Vape and Juice, said: "It's probably more like between £10,000 and £15,000. A lot of our high-end products have been stolen."

"If it was a smash and grab sort of thing, you'd expect a lot more things to go but it was a very specific selection of products they took.

"Maybe they knew there's a market for this and how quickly they could move these particular products.

"It seems it was a targeted attack and it doesn't look random at all."

Mr Riddle described how whole shelves of products were wiped clean in the raid, along with orders that had already been made up and were ready to be shipped to clients.

"It looks like they've ransacked the place," said the 35-year-old.

"It seems like they've used a crow bar or a metal bar to wedge open the external UPVC door and they've levered it off the locking mechanism.

"Then they smashed the inside door."

Vape and Juice is now reviewing CCTV footage taken by neighbouring businesses, and is installing cameras of its own.

"Shore up your own security measures," Mr Riddle advises other businesses. "Double-check and triple-check when locking your premises. Shore up your own security, and add extra measures."

Vape and Juice managers are asking Whitstable residents to keep a lookout for the products, which are branded Vape and Juice and are therefore traceable.

The business is also offering a reward of £500 for any information that leads to the arrest of the thieves, or the recovery of goods.

A police spokesman said: "Kent Police received a report of burglary at a business in Millstrood Road, Whitstable on Monday 30 July 2018.

"Between 4.30pm on 27 July and 8.15am on 30 July a company called Vape and Juice Ltd was broken into.

"Cash and a number of products have been reported stolen."

Witnesses or anyone with information is urged to call 01843 222289 quoting reference ZY/043977/18.