A masked thief took hundreds of pounds from a pet shop in the middle of the night.

The crook arrived outside Maypole Pet and Garden Centre in Maypole Road, Wickham Bishops, on Sunday.

CCTV footage from inside the shop shows the thief, who wore a lightly coloured mask and a long black coat, running through the store as he searched for goods to take.

After a brief search, they are seen rushing out of the shop holding what appeared to be a cash float tin, which had been kept at the shop overnight.

A staff member at the shop said the man “knew exactly where he was going” when he entered.

She added that he was “in and out in two minutes”. The thief arrived and departed the shop in a dark old Ford Focus.

CCTV from a car park outside the shop shows the vehicle believed to belong to them, however its number plate was obscured from view.

Essex Police has launched an investigation into the incident and any witnesses are being asked to come forward with information.

A spokesman for Essex Police, said: “We were contacted with reports a burglar broke into Maypole Pet and Garden Centre in Maypole Road, Wickham Bishops, at 11pm on January 27 and stole a three-figure sum of cash.

“Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to call 101 quoting incident 42/14843/19.”