A SNEAKY thief managed to swipe £1,700 from a Post Office till after creeping in through the back door.

The criminal, who was wearing a hooded top, crept into Barstable Post Office, in Timberlog Lane, Basildon and helped himself to the wads of cash while a staff member was distracted at the back of the store.

It is understood that the suspect made off with the entire day’s takings from the cash office.

Staff at the store only noticed that the money was missing when they checked the till later.

Andrew Buxton, Labour councillor for St Martin’s ward, urged shopkeepers to remain vigilant.

He said: “That’s quite shocking that somebody has managed to get away with stealing so much money.

“I only hope that the CCTV is working and they can catch the people that way.

“There is a service road at the back of the shops and all of the shops have got back gates so he must have got in that way.

“Even shopkeepers have got to be very vigilant.

“It is such a shame that a local business has lost out on a day’s takings.

“I really feel for the person who runs the shop, because it is their livelihood.”

PC Marek Jaworski, from Basildon’s community policing team, called on anyone with information to come forward.

He said: “Somebody has come into the store and taken all of the takings from the till.

“There was about £1,700 which went missing.

“The staff member who was working there was out the back so they didn’t see the suspect come into the store.

“It looks as if the suspect entered the store through the back door and managed to get to the main cash office without anybody noticing him.

“He has taken the cash out of the till drawer and then left the scene.

“We do not have any other description other than that he was wearing a hooded top.

“We would be keen to speak to any witnesses of the incident or anybody who saw any suspicious activity in Timberlog Lane at the time.

“It was reported at 7.30pm last Sunday but it happened at about 6.40pm.”

So far, no arrests have been made and enquiries are continuing.

A manager at Barstable Post Office was unavailable for comment before the Echo went to print.

Anyone with information can call Essex Police on 101 or independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Alternatively visit crimestoppers-uk.org to fill out a form.