Thieves used an “electric drill” to cut through a shop’s shutters and steal cigarettes.

Police were notified of the burglary at U.See.Inn Continental in Caledonian Road, Islington, opposite Pentonville Prison at 2am on January 27.

Dramatic images taken from nearby CCTV appear to show one person, who is wearing a motorbike helmet, kneeling down next to the shutters as sparks fly.

Another person with their face covered appears to stand watch nearby.

Shop owner Selina Guler told the Islington Gazette: “They used an electric drill to cut through the shutters. The burglary took four minutes.”

Ms Guler said she was told a bystander had notified police about the incident, who then contacted her in the early hours of the morning.

Police confirmed that cigarettes were stolen in the raid, and that the shop’s shutters were also damaged.

An investigation has been launched, with officers conducting a trawl of CCTV and a forensic examination of the scene.

No arrests have been made, with witnesses urged to call police on 101 quoting reference 703/27Jan.

The supermarket reopened the evening after the burglary and is operating as normal.