A newly opened food truck has suffered 'thousands of pounds' worth of damages after it was broken into.

Sam McNicholas only opened business venture The Masked Chef five weeks ago and has now suffered a 'huge setback' after the food truck was burgled and 'trashed'.

On Monday morning (August 19) at around 3am, a person can be seen on CCTV footage entering the carpark of Sam's main business, Sunset Composite Decking, where the truck is kept and operates from.

The person reportedly then proceeded to break into the truck and caused damages to the locks, meaning they need to be replaced. 

CCTV footage of the man who is reported to have broken into the vanCCTV footage of the man who is reported to have broken into the van (Image: Supplied)

Sam said: "The doors are so damaged it needs replacing, the locks are the same. 

"They've completely trashed the place in the inside and caused quite a lot of damage cost-wise to the van and they've stolen our smoker which was nearly £500.

"Believe it or not, they've stolen all the canned drinks and all the spices, which to anyone else the spices aren't worth anything but for us it's about £150."

Sam said they also took some spare change from the till but says this will have only been around £15 as they empty the till nightly.

He estimates that the cost of damage is at least £2,500 but says this doesn't include the loss of revenue from having to close the business over Wednesday and Thursday. 

The Masked Chef is already a well-loved fixture in Oldham, having attended two charity events to help good causes at a fun day for Dr Kershaw's Hospitce and a benefit for Ray Logan, who was left in a coma after being attacked after the Euros final.

Sam said the business isn't even managing to make profit yet, as it is a new project which is still trying to build up a reputation in the community. 

He said: "We're getting really busy periods and a great reputation, but obviously five weeks in it's hard to be busy from open till close."

Announcing that they would be closed to regroup after the burglary, The Masked Chef said: "We sadly have not yet recovered from the [break in] from the other night and we will not be open Wednesday or Thursday this week.

"There is a chance we can be back open for Friday.

"We have had so much support and acts of kindness our way since the incident and we will be forever grateful.

"From donations to help fixing things, even to an alarm system donation."

The Masked Chef announced it's re-opening yesterday, with them opening today (Friday August 23).

Sam said that since they announced the incident, they had received donations from fellow culinary businesses as well as individual people including a loan of a new smoker for them to use until they are recovered, a new security system for the truck and even things as small as napkins.

Sam said: "We've put a lot into this so it's set us back quite a bit, but the support we have received has been amazing.

"It's just a very good reaction to the bad news and it just shows that there's a lot of good people in this town."

Greater Manchester Police have been approached for comment.