£1,000 chain ripped from victims neck in daylight street robbery

Tom Maguire was walking with his girlfriend in Walsall when his 26 inch belcher chain was snatched in Oxford Road, Pleck.

Mr Maguire, 26 said: "My girlfriend and I were walking down the street when a man came towards us but walked past. As he walked passed me, he reached back around and grabbed my chain from around my neck."

Mr Maguire's girlfriend called the police while the victim chased the thief for more than 300 yards.

He said: "I was in shock and he was running about a street ahead of me. I chased him as he ran down a side street and turned left onto the Wednesbury Road just before the lights at Morrisons, but that's when I lost him."

The thief is described as an Asian male in his late 20s, around 6ft tall and of a slim build. It is believed he was wearing a long light green coat, past his knees.

The stolen chain weighs 70g and is valued at approximately £1,200. The item of jewellery would be recognisable by dents in two of the links and the clasp or a link would be broken from being pulled from around the neck.

Mr Maguire, of Wycliffe Road, Pleck, is offering a cash reward for any information that leads to the recovery of the item, which was only purchased two weeks before as a birthday present.

Brigg Ford, of West Midlands Police, said: "Officers continue to investigate a theft where a man had a chain snatched from around his neck in Walsall.

"It is believed that several people from nearby flats ran after the thief but lost him sight of him as he ran towards Bescot Street.

"Officers continue to trawl CCTV and make enquiries with local jewellery and second hand stores and are appealing for any information that could help their investigation."

The street robbery happened on Oxford Road in Pleck at approximately 3.40pm on October 28.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Walsall police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.