GREENE – The search was on Thursday for one or more burglars who broke into the IGA where they stole cigarettes and cash from an automatic teller machine.

Police said the culprits gained access from the roof of the Route 202 market. IGA owner Paul Bussiere said phone lines had been cut in an attempt to disable an alarm.

It appeared that once inside, the thieves grabbed cigarettes and then spent time breaking into an ATM to get at the cash inside.

“They seemed to know what they were doing,” Bussiere said.

It was not disclosed how much money was taken. The IGA was able to open for business Thursday morning even as police technicians examined the roof and interior of the store, searching for clues.

The break-in occurred either late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, according to Maine State Police Sgt. Donald Shead.

By afternoon, police said they had developed leads in the case. They were also exploring possible links to business burglaries committed recently in Waterville, Lewiston and Biddeford.

The store remained without phone service most of the day while waiting for the cut lines to be repaired. Bussiere said a tile had been removed from a section of the roof but damage to the building was not extensive.

Businesses in several areas have been targeted recently by burglars who struck in the overnight hours. In Lewiston, thieves disabled an alarm while breaking into Marden’s on Main Street.

In Waterville, Flagship Cinema on Kennedy Memorial Drive was broken into at the start of January. Police said money was taken from the business.

The break-ins remain under investigation. By late in the day Thursday, no arrest had been made in the IGA burglary.