DETECTIVES are investigating a sophisticated break-in that saw a safe stolen from a popular seafront cafe in Largs.

Nardini's at the Moorings was broken into by a group of professional thieves at just before 3am on Saturday July 17.

The intruders managed to by-pass the premise's security system after forcing open the door, disabling the alarm system and stealing the safe and cash drawer, which included an undisclosed sum of money.

The cafe re-opened on Saturday afternoon after repairing the damage done during the smash and grab raid.

Co-owner Claudio Nardini, 46, said he was taken aback by the level of expertise involved.

He said: "The alarm hadn't gone off as they had disconnected it and the CCTV system before they entered. They took the hard drive connected to the CCTV, and ripped the safe out.

"Officers from CID have gone round the local shops trying to get footage and they have had some success.

"Some of the images showed a number of guys coming out of a car carrying LED lights, and then after the theft they drove off back around the one way system.

"Police are still waiting for some footage to come back from some of the other shops but they are hopeful that there might be more useful stuff to follow.

"They didn't take anything else - the cash drawer and the safe was all that was gone. I don't know who it was or how they did it but it was very sophisticated.

"This should serve as a warning to all businesses in Largs to be vigilant as there are gangs out there doing this. They are very professional, the thieves clearly knew what they were doing and had it well planned.

"We were all shocked by what happened. We lost a morning's business out of it but we managed to get the cafe open for lunchtime on Saturday."

Police are appealing for information and witnesses to come forward. If you can help, phone 101.