The Scottish Tobacco store off U.S. Highway 278 in the Covington Crossing shopping center was burglarized early Wednesday morning and authorities are searching for those responsible.

According to reports from the Covington Police Department, they were notified of the burglary around 9:45 a.m. Wednesday. When they arrived at the store, they spoke with the controller at Pacho’s Mexican Grill who reportedly told them that when she arrived for work, she saw the back door of Scottish Tobacco had been cut open and that the rear door of Pacho’s had been barricaded from the outside with some buckets and a large wooden pallet.

She allegedly told officers that she spoke with one of her employees who said that when he attempted to leave from the rear door around 4 a.m. he was unable to open it and didn’t have a cell phone or know whom to call, so he stayed at the restaurant until other workers arrived. Additionally, she told officers that the phone lines had been cut inside the service panel behind the businesses.

Officers found that the bottom of the metal door to Scottish Tobacco had been cut 18-24 inches above ground level with what appeared to be a grinder or a cutting wheel. The door had then been pulled away from the building and entry was made into the store.

Inside the store four padlocks had been cut from where they had secured deadbolt hasps on the inside of the door and a second locked interior door had been pulled open as well. Phone lines inside of the business had been cut.

Several cartons and cases of cigarettes had been taken as well as about $1,000 cash and a computer hard drive. The alarm to the business had not gone off due to the cut phone lines. Thieves made off with roughly $10,000 worth of merchandise.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the CPD at (770) 786-4605 or online at www.covingtonpolice.com. All tips can be given anonymously.