Masked robbers target village jewellers

Three masked raiders, one armed with a sledgehammer, burst into a village shop before stealing a haul of jewellery.

The terrified owner of Greville Rossiter locked himself in a storeroom at the gang smashed opened cabinets to snatch the contents.

The robbers, wearing tracksuits, struck at the shop in Worcester Road, Hagley, near Stourbridge, yesterday afternoon. They escaped in a black Ford Focus - registration LT5 30ZN -which was driven in the direction of Stourbridge. It was later found burned out in Pedmore Lane, Stourbridge.

Police are now appealing for witnesses to the raid which took place at around 2.15pm. The value and exact quantity of the stolen jewellery is not yet known. No one was hurt in the raid.

Staff at the shop declined to comment on the robbery.

Detective Jon Marsden said: "We urgently need to speak to anyone who may have seen this vehicle and its occupants, either before or after the robbery.

"Although we have traced some witnesses we are particularly interested in talking to a man and a woman, described as in their 20s, who we understand were taking photographs in the area near the jewellers in Worcester Road shortly before this incident.

"One had a clipboard and the other a camera and I would urge them, or anyone who knows who they are, to come forward as they could have information that could help our investigation."

Witnesses can call police on 0300 333 3000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

It is not the first time the shop has been targeted. In 2006 two armed men carried out a day-time robbery there.