A MAN has been arrested after allegedly stealing £10,000 worth of cigarettes from a petrol station. 

The petrol station in Chepstow - which police are not naming - received a call on Thursday, April 8 purporting to be from its Head Office. 

The person calling stated they would be attending the store to collect "all their cigarretes, which were being recalled," a spokesman for Gwent Police said.

A man latter attended the petrol station to collect the cigarettes, allegedly walking out with £10,000 worth of "stolen" cigarettes.

A 31-year-old man from Newport has been arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation and has since been released under investigation, police said.

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Police are now appealing to all shops and retailers to be aware of similar scams. 

They added: "Please ensure that the identity of anyone contacting you to complete any transaction is always checked and verified to ensure it is genuine."