Dundee newsagent believes the same crooks came back for second time to raid his shop

A Dundee newsagent has spoke of the “devastating” raid on his shop – the second such incident in under a month.

Crooks smashed their way into Mortali Newsagents in Charleston Drive in the early hours of Monday morning.

It comes just three weeks after the Menzieshill-based business was targeted in a similar raid.

In the latest incident, a quantity of cigarettes and £40 in cash was stolen.

However, damage to the property is expected to cost the business upwards of £800.

Derek Mortali, 70, who is looking after the newsagent while his son Robert is on holiday, said “awful” perpetrators were behind both of the crimes.

He added: “It is devastating. We have been here for 22 years and just tried to work hard and be part of the community.

“I think that it was probably the same people.

“They looked very similar on the CCTV and the way they came in and went for the cash and the cigarettes. They forced open the back door just after midnight.

“The alarm goes straight to my house, so I came up and the police were already here.

“It isn’t much fun for this type of thing to happen when you have been here for 22 years.”

The previous incident saw thieves break into the newsagents via the front door.

Cigarettes worth about £800 were stolen along with £300 out of the till.

A spokeswoman for the force confirmed that they were investigating the latest break in.

She said: “Police Scotland is carrying out inquiries after a break-in to a newsagents at Charleston Drive, Dundee, at just before midnight on Monday October 9.

“A two-figure sum of money and a quantity of cigarettes were stolen. Anyone with any information that may be useful should contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting CR/26424/17 or speak to any police officer.

“Alternatively information can be passed anonymously via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Speaking at the time of the first break-in, Robert Mortali said: “I have absolutely no idea why they’ve decided to pick on me this time but they have so we have to deal with it.

“I haven’t heard anything from some of the people around here either.

“It’s obviously disappointing to have something like this happen but the worst part is having to deal with everything else after that.

“Hopefully they’ll be able to get someone but we’ll just need to wait and see.”