News / Crime
Robbers steal jewellery by smashing cabinets in broad daylight
Jewellery worth thousands of pounds was stolen from a shop in south Bristol on Friday afternoon.
Three men with hammers smashed through window cabinets at Silver & Steel on East Street in Bedminster and took the only gold jewellery pieces stocked at the shop.
The robbery happened in broad daylight at around 1pm, with shop staff attempting to intervene.
The robbers smashed through the shop’s window on Friday afternoon – photo: Silver & Steel
In a post on Instagram, Silver & Steel founder Bethany May Silver, said: “All of our pieces are handmade with time and love and as you can imagine it’s incredibly expensive to run a shop of this size.
“At this time of year the pieces that were stolen, made by our wonderful residents, would have kept the shop going in the final last-minute push before Christmas.
“These were the pieces we were expecting to sell now and have only just been added to the shop. This is a hit for us financially at our most important time for year for sales.”
While the shop is still checking stocks to confirm what’s missing, these are some pieces that were stolen – photo: Silver & Steel
Bethany asked people in Bristol to keep an eye out for these “unique pieces” at pawn shops and cash converters
“It’s a sad fact of our times that it’s worth someone’s time to rob a small independent shop for pieces that aren’t actually worth much in metal, worth more in the labour that made them,” added Bethany.
Silver & Steel host jewellery making workshops and silversmithing classes – photo: Silver & Steel
In a statement, Avon & Somerset Police said: “Officers were called just after 1pm and attended immediately to carry out initial enquiries, including crime scene investigation.
“Three men entered the shop and began smashing display cases with a hammer to steal unique pieces of jewellery.
“While shop staff tried to intervene, they felt threatened by the man with the hammer.
“All three men had their faces covered and hoods up.
“They made off on foot, towards Mill Lane and Leicester Street, but despite a search of the area officers were unable to locate them.
“If you were in the area and saw or have relevant dashcam or other footage of what happened, or any information, please call 101 and give the reference 5225356034.
“Alternatively contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously by ringing 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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