Police say a brazen burglar used a sledgehammer to smash their way into Smoke City in Massapequa – stealing from the store’s ATM as well as thousands of dollars of cigarettes.
Store owner Choudry Awan says the store alarm was set off around 4 a.m. Monday.
Awan says the suspect or suspects cut the electricity to the store, which made it too dark for the security cameras to capture any useful images. He says he found the ATM had been smashed and at least $3,200 worth of cigarettes had been stolen.
The owner says the thief actually went into a supply closet, got a ladder and attempted to cut the alarm wire in the store’s ceiling.
Awan says the suspect or suspects left behind a sledgehammer, wire cutters and a crowbar.
Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call 1-800-244-TIPS.