Police were alerted to the burglary at 3.25am.

Sergeant Steve Brown, of the Portland police crime investigation unit, said the front window of the shop was smashed, the offender gained entry to the shop and stole a substantial number of mobile phones.

He said a full inventory of what had been stolen was still being completed and Warrnambool-based crime scene officers were expected to examine the shop this morning.

The break-in continues a run of commercial burglaries in Portland which has included a jewellery store, a takeaway food outlet, an electrical store and Portland Disposals, Camping and Hardware shop in Julia Street.