A ‘BOLD’ and ‘distressing’ raid on a Lydney jewellery business has led owners to offer a reward, after thousands of pounds worth of stock was stolen at the weekend, in what they suspect was a local attack.

Claire and Adam Taylor’s Lydney store was burgled, in the early hours of Saturday morning, by thieves who broke a window in the shop door and crawled inside, smashing display cabinets and making off with jewellery worth thousands.

Witnesses saw two masked men get into a silver Volkswagon seven-seater car and drive off at speed towards Whitecroft following the raid on Taylors Jewellers in Newerne Street.

“We were contacted by the police,” Claire told the Review, “as they responded when our alarm went off. It was very distressing and upsetting, but at least nobody was hurt as the shop was empty at that time of night.

“A lot of what the thieves took was very distinctive.

“There were a number of women’s and men’s Lorus watches and Emozioni jewellery.

“Pearl jewellery was taken and antique silver, including vesta match boxes and cigarette cases dating back to the early 20th century. We’re still going through our inventory to work out exactly what is missing.

“We have shops in Lydney and Cinderford and have been in business for over 10 years and we’ve never had anything like this happen before.

“We have no idea who it was, but we have a horrible feeling it was somebody local.

“We’re offering a reward for the return of the jewellery or for information leading to a prosecution.

“It was a bold thing to do to crawl through the door with the alarm sounding, but it wouldn’t have taken them long even though the police responded quickly.

“We were very disappointed that this happened and it was upsetting for everyone involved, but we cleared it all up and had the shop open again on Saturday. My husband Adam did the repairs himself.”

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Police said: “We were called at 1am on Saturday, 14 September following a robbery at a jewellers in Newerne Street, Lydney.

“Unknown offenders smashed through the glass door of the premises and stole thousands of pounds worth of jewellery from glass cabinets in the shop.

“A member of the public saw two masked men get into a silver Volkswagon seven-seater car and drive off at speed towards Whitecroft on Forest Road. It’s believed the getaway car was parked in Regent Street.”

Police are appealing for further witnesses and ask anyone who has any information that may help with their enquiries to call 101 quoting incident number 15 of September 14.