Two people in balaclavas smashed a car into the Co-op in New Malden and escaped a police officer in a late-night burglary.

The window of the shop, in High Street, was smashed at about 3am today.

Residents called the police, and an officer on patrol saw two people loading up the car but was unable to arrest them before they drove off.

The car has not been found.

Enquiries continue this morning, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said.