POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a break-in at Woolworth's in Marlborough High Street when £12,000 of computer games were stolen.

The two thieves, wearing balaclavas and white gloves, struck shortly after 4am on Tuesday morning.

They broke the lower panes of the double electric front doors and then crawled in through the hole.

Police believe they were familiar with the store layout and went straight to the entertainment till point where they took between 300 and 400 PlayStation games, valued at around £12,000, from the shelves behind.

They bundled the haul into two large grey and white chequered beach bags, and left the way they had come in.

They were caught on the store's CCTV cameras, but it was so dark that the images are indistinct.

The men were seen to approach the store from the direction of the town hall and later leave in the same direction. They are described as wearing dark blue balaclavas or similar face masks, dark coats and trousers. Both men were wearing white gloves.

Dave Williams, the store manager, said: "They knew exactly what they were looking for and went straight for it. Apart from the broken glass at the door and the items they dropped in their hurry, they left very little mess."

Mr Williams said the store opened on time on Tuesday.

He said the large amount of missing stock of PlayStation games is being replaced as a priority.

Marlborough police appealed for anyone who had seen anything suspicious at the store.

PC Mark Kuklinski, who is investigating the burglary, said: "These people probably cased the joint before the theft and we would be particularly grateful if anyone who might have seen them would get in touch with us."

Marlborough police can be contacted on (01672) 514311.