A brazen burglar took a sledgehammer to the window of a Helston jewellers and grabbed an £11,000 Rolex watch in broad daylight.

 

Shoppers in the street watched on in disbelief as the man abandoned his car in Meneage Street and headed straight for Wearne's Jewellers, hitting one of the windows "five or six times" before reaching in to take the 18ct gold watch at around 2.50pm last Wednesday, March 29.

 

Shop owner Adam Corbridge praised the quick-thinking actions of his staff who prevented the man from taking anything further, with James Ferrie dashing to shut and bolt the door while Tracy Chatwood quickly removed other items from the window.

 

Mr Corbridge said: "The staff did a great job in making sure he didn't come in the property. I commend the staff for how they dealt with it."

 

He also commended the police for arriving within two minutes, although it is understood that the man had already jumped the traffic lights and raced off by the time officers could get there.

 

However, he described the "very brazen" incident as "obviously upsetting," despite insurance covering the cost of the actual watch.

 

Mr Corbridge said there would have been lots of witnesses in the street and urged them to now come forward to speak to police.

 

"I feel very sad that someone can get away with doing that in broad daylight, with everyone stood around watching it," he added.

 

Mr Corbridge stressed that security measures would now be improved at the shop, where windows are covered by metal grills out of hours.

 

Police have issued a description of the man who carried out the attack, describing him as white, approximately 6ft tall, with dark, greying hair and stubble. He was wearing thick rimmed glasses, a black leather jacket, blue jeans and white shoes.

 

DC Martin Hearn, of Helston CID, said: "We would particularly like to hear from anyone who saw a man of this description in the area at the time of the burglary from Wearne’s Jewellers."

 

They have also given the details of the watch that was taken, in the hope that anyone offered such an item will recognise it and come forward.

 

The Rolex features both the day and date on its face and is model 18238, with the serial number E348413.

 

"We would also urge anyone to come forward who has been offered for sale a watch like the one that was stolen and are uncertain of where it came from," added DC Hearn.

 

Anyone with information that could help police is asked to email 101@dc.police.uk or call 101 quoting crime reference CR/023309/17. Information can also be given anonymously to CrimeStoppers on 0800 555111.