GARAGE owner David Robinson has had steel shutters fitted at the windows at Minety Motors following the latest in a string of raids by gangs of cigarette thieves.

Thieves smashed a window at the garage at 5.40am on Friday, stealing around £1,500 worth of cigarettes and stamps. The window will cost £300 to repair.

Mr Robinson, 56, who has owned the garage for more than 30 years, had the steel shutters fitted on Saturday, and said he hopes the measure will keep out raiders.

The shutters will remain on 24hrs a day.

"I feel as sick as pig. This has happened six times in the 30 years I have been here," said Mr Robinson, who said the last theft, also of cigarettes, was about three years ago.

"I also hope it will stop people getting in and costing me a fortune to repair the window."

The two thieves made off in a red Vauxhall Nova, towards Malmesbury.

On May 6 thieves got in through the roof of Malmesbury Specialist Cars, in Crudwell Road, and made off with a substantial load of cigarettes.

On the same night, police arrested two men after break-ins at Somerfield in Wootton Bassett and Calne Service Station.