THE same raiders are believed to be behind two smash and grab raids which have seen offenders force their way into closed shops in the early hours and steal cigarettes.
The latest incident took place at 3.05am today in Derby Road, Sandiacre.
A police spokesman said a patrol car spotted a dark-coloured Vauxhall Vectra parked in the car park of the Co-op store and as he approached it the horn sounded twice.
A man came out of the shop, which was closed at the time, and the car sped off in the direction of Risley followed by the police car.
The officer lost the Vectra during the chase as it approached the roundabout with the M1 at junction 25.
When the officer returned to the store the bottom glass panel of the locked front door was smashed and it has since been discovered that cigarettes were stolen.
Police are linking the offence to one that took place at 1am yesterday when masked raiders smashed the front door of the a closed Jet garage on the A38, jumped over the counter and took cigarettes.
The break-in happened on the southbound A38 at Derby Road, Egginton and a witness said two men, who were both white fled in a Vauxhall Vectra in the direction of Willington.
A force spokesman said: "We are linking both incidents because of the vehicle used, the method of break-in and the fact that cigarettes were stolen in both cases."
Anyone with information should call police on 101.
