A BOLD thief walked out of a city tea shop with a safe full of cash before dumping it nearby.

The raid on Tempo Tea Bar, which is a bubble tea specialist, happened in the early hours of Sunday morning on Queen Street.

The Evening Times understands that the thief made off with the safe and walked through Royal Exchange Square before dumping it in an alleyway nearby. 

The sum of cash stolen is not known at this stage. 

The owners of the drinking spot, which has been on Queen Street for six years, expressed their upset over the break-in. 

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In a statement on Facebook, the tea bar said: "This month marks another year of Tempo being open and turning six years old. So it should be a month of celebrations right?

"Well, early this morning our Glasgow store was broken into with them taking our whole safe.

"This is only eight months after our Edinburgh store got broken into as well.

"It has certainly been one of the toughest years for us. It’s just very upsetting and disappointing that someone would target a small family business.

"It’s the harder times like this that makes me really lose faith as this not only impacts myself but also my whole team and my customers."

The statement added: "I am also incredibly touched by the messages and support from our wonderful customers. It really does make a horrible situation that bit better.

"We are not going to let situations like this keep us from realising our dreams. We will always get back up, never stay down and be stronger than before."

A Police Scotland spokeswoman confirmed they are investigating the break-in. It is also understood that forensic officers are examining the safe to find the person responsible. 

She said: "Police were called at 5.55 am on Sunday, October 6 to a break-in at a cafe on Queen Street in Glasgow. 

"Entry was forced into the premises and a safe was stolen. 

"It was later found nearby with an unconfirmed sum of cash missing from within.

"Enquiries remain ongoing."

READ MORE: 'Don't leave cash in tills overnight': Cops warn Glasgow businesses after spate of nursery and shop break-ins

The latest break-in comes after city police warned last month that there has been a spike of thefts in Glasgow.

The force said over the last six weeks, there has been a 'noticeable rise' in shops and children's nurseries being specifically targeted for float money, often left in tills or cash boxes.