SHOCKING images show the moment when a popular retro toys and games store was raided by masked crooks - resulting in the independent business losing thousands of pounds.

Retroformers, at The Centre, off Halstead High Street, has shown the Halstead Gazette images of the incident which resulted in up to £18,000 worth of stock being stolen.

On March 19 at 2.30am, crooks managed to deactivate the shop's alarm system by cutting a hole on its exterior wall, right before they smashed the business's bottom front door panel.

Once inside, the masked thugs stole rare Warhammer products, Pokémon cards, DVDs and blu-rays.

Halstead Gazette: Shop - The inside of RetroformersShop - The inside of Retroformers (Image: Retroformers)

Halstead Gazette: Smashed - The shop's front door panel Smashed - The shop's front door panel (Image: Retroformers)

Thousands of Pokemon cards were stolen, with some worth up to £100 each.

Now, Retroformers co-founder Jonathan Farenden has shared CCTV imagery which shows one of the masked thugs carefully examining some of the store's stock.

In the images, you can clearly see the figure pointing his light as he looks through the store's shelves.

He is clearly wearing a hat, a garment which covers the rest of his face, gloves, t-shirt, and what could be a tracksuit.

Halstead Gazette: Thief - one of the masked individuals in the storeThief - one of the masked individuals in the store (Image: Retroformers)

Halstead Gazette: Crook - the individual is seen looking for things to stealCrook - the individual is seen looking for things to steal (Image: Retroformers)

Jonathan and colleague Alex de Nigs, of Halstead, were made aware of the situation by fellow shop owners later in the morning and arrived on the scene at about 8am.

Jonathan previously spoke to the Gazette and said: “I feel very disappointed and let down that people do this.

"We are all struggling and bills are going up - we have all these issues.

“We are struggling as a nation. When someone does this, you feel like your struggle to keep going is tested.

“I am working now to basically fund the people who have stolen from me, until I manage to fill that void that has been left.

“Something like this affects your ability to carry on.”

Halstead Gazette: Robbery - Retroformers after the incidentRobbery - Retroformers after the incident (Image: Retroformers)

The business owner is extremely thankful for the outpouring of community support so far.

Essex Police is investigating the robbery.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We received a report of a burglary at a business premises in The Centre, Halstead, which is suspected to have taken place at around 2.30am on Tuesday, March 19.

“It was reported entry had been forced before stock and cash was taken from the property."

Anyone with information should contact Essex Police on 101 and quote crime reference number 42/44382/24.