Raiders smashed their way into the Duke’s Corner pub and made off with a five-figure sum of money in an early-morning raid.
Shocked staff at Duke’s Corner discovered the weekend’s takings had been stolen from the safe, which had been forced open, when they arrived for work on Monday morning.
The CCTV system’s hard drive had also been ripped out in the raid at the Brown Street premises.
General manager Ian Maclagan said: “I just can’t contain my disgust at whoever did this.”
The break-in is believed to have taken place some time between when the pub was locked up at 3.30am and 9am when staff opened up.
Workers were still counting the cost and cleaning up the damage at lunchtime but were able to open up for business again by the early afternoon.
Mr Maclagan said: “The emergency doors had been forced open, the office door had been broken in and the safe was forced open.
“It is a bit shocking. We are getting repairs done quickly and new locks put on. It seems like someone who knew what they were doing.
“We have got a lot of cameras andthey would have been caught on one ofthem.There was quite a big hard drive for the CCTV in the office which was disconnected and taken away.”
Ian said the money taken from the safe included large amounts of change, £500 of it in £1 coins, which the thieves may try to get rid of.
He said: “They took every bit of cash we had in the building.It was our entire weekend takings.It is pretty bad. We are still just trying to take it all in.”
He added nearby takeaway Marco Polo was still open when staff were locking up the pub and someone may have seen something.
He said: “If anyone saw someone climbing over the fence I hope they will contact the police.”
It is also thought that nearby businesses including Tesco, The Globe and Marco Polo may have CCTV footage that will prove useful to the police.
Police are investigating and anyone who may have seen something suspicious, or who might have information to help trace those responsible or the takings is being asked to contact 101.
Alternatively information can be passed anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.