CCTV appeal over diamond ring theft

Police have released CCTV footage of a man they want to speak to after the theft of a diamond ring from a jewellers in Bloxwich.

An unknown man entered Andrews the Jewellers, in High Street, and asked to view a ladies' white gold solitaire diamond ring from the window.

He then took the ring from the assistant and ran from the shop.

The shop owner gave chase but the offender fled in a blue or black W registration Ford Focus or Fiesta, which was being driven by a white man.

The thief is described as being aged 35 to 40, of medium build, clean shaven, around 6ft to 6ft 1in tall and with dark hair. He was wearing dark trousers and a dark blue waist-length jacket. Investigating officer Pc Stuart Mahon said: "We are keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who has any knowledge of the stolen ring, which was of a high value."

The theft happened at around 2pm on January 31.

Anyone with information should call Bloxwich police on 101 or information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Last year, figures showed armed robbers and burglars had targeted jewellers in the West Midlands more than 100 times in the past five years.

More than £1 million of valuables were taken.

Twenty-eight jewellers were targeted in 2009 to 2010.

Sandwell was the worst-hit spot in the Black Country, followed by Wolverhampton, Dudley and Walsall.

Jewellers in Wolverhampton had £574,288 worth of items stolen from 2005 to 2010, while in Sandwell the figure was £269,912.

In Dudley it was £178,320 and in Walsall, £41,220 – giving a total of £1,063,740 for the Black Country.