SHOP owners in Cornwall have been warned to be on their guard after thieves stole around £4,000 alcohol from a store in Cornwall at the weekend.

Newquay Police report that three men went into Linden Stores in Linden Road at around 9pm on Friday (November 12) , and bought mainly alcohol and tobacco.

One man stood at the till making transaction while the other tow men wandered around picking up products. The man paying for the good used a card and signature in the first instance then appeared to be manipulating the card terminal for further transactions.

"He appeared to be referring to his phone during these transactions," said Newquay Police in a Facebook post. "As carrier bags of alcohol and tobacco are filled, the two males walking about the store take the bags to a vehicle waiting outside. The males leave the store around 10pm and the transactions are later found to be fraudulent."

The males are described as speaking with South East English accents, possibly London. They may have been assisted by another person driving a dark coloured vehicle, unknown registration. All males appear to be aged in mid-20s.

Anyone who believes they may have information relating to the incident described above are encouraged to call Devon and Cornwall Police on 101 – or use our web chat service on the force website – quoting crime reference number CR/099747/21.

Police warn that the group are likely to target small independent premises and may have used the same methods in other stores around Devon and Cornwall in the days before and after this offence.