A community on one of Scotland’s remote islands has been left reeling after experiencing one of its first crimes in decades.  

A store on the island, which has a population of just 200, was targeted by thieves in the early hours of Friday morning last week.

Tobacco products were taken during the break-in after the door to the store was forced in. Staff discovered packets of the missing items the next day, while miniature bottles of alcohol were also scattered across the floor. 

Police are now investigating the incident on the Isle of Jura, in the Inner Hebrides. 

Jackie Logan, the shop’s manager, told the Scottish Sun: “It’s a very rare incident. 

“I was in shock. I noticed half of the back door was missing. Whoever it was that did it, they weren’t interested in anything but the tobacco. 

“They didn’t touch the alcohol, there was money in jars that they didn’t touch. 

“It was a weird one, very weird. We think it’s just a few packs that they’ve taken. I think it might have been someone drunk that came out of the pub.” 

The village of Craighouse on Jura The village of Craighouse on Jura (Image: NQ)

She added: “There was some wee miniatures of drink on the floor and the cigarettes were all tipped up on the floor. But everything else was the way it was left the night before. 

“It sounds like someone who’s just had a bit too much to drink and decided they were coming into the shop for tobacco. 

“I just hope the person, whoever it was, woke up in the morning feeling bad about themselves, if they remember what they did.” 

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Ms Logan said thieves had smashed in the door to gain access to the shop and that it had since been replaced with a wooden panel. 

The shop was also closed briefly before cops arrived to take statements and hunt for clues. 

Ms Logan also said a packet of cigarettes was found outside the shop and tested for fingerprints. 

She said there are now plans to install CCTV cameras in case of a repeat offence. 

She said: “Because it’s Jura, you don’t think anything like this is going to happen. Not a lot happens here. 

“The police were flabbergasted as well when they got the phone call to come over.” 

The Paps of Jura, two famous hills on the island The Paps of Jura, two famous hills on the island (Image: NQ)

Locals said the break-in is one of the only crimes on Jura in living memory. 

It’s thought an incident where charity tins were swiped from a nearby cafe around 20 years was the last time that police had to investigate a crime. 

Jura was home to the writer George Orwell when he wrote his masterpiece 1984 in a remote croft called Barnhill in the north of the island. 

Described it as “in an extremely un-get-atable place”, the remote house remains only accessible by a gravel track at the end of the island’s one single-track road, which winds and tapers down the eastern side