A SUBSTANTIAL amount of cash was stolen from a supermarket in Burnley after thieves broke in through the roof.

Thieves forced their way into the cash office of the Asda store in Princess Way at around 1.10am on Easter Sunday taking the high value of cash before activating the alarm and fleeing the scene.

An investigation is underway and police are viewing CCTV, making forensic enquiries, and speaking to witnesses.

Detective Inspector Mick Cross said: “Easter Sunday is one of the few days a year when ASDA is closed, however it is likely there would still have been people visiting the 24 hour cash machines outside the store into the early hours so I would appeal to these people to come forward if they noticed any persons or vehicles in the area that aroused any suspicion.

“We believe this offence was carefully planned with external CCTV cameras immobilised outside the premises.

“Anyone with any information should call Lancashire Police on 101.”