Avon and Somerset Police are appealing to people in the jewellery trade for help to trace a man believed to have stolen a high-value diamond ring from a store in Bath.
He is described as about 5ft 10ins tall, with short bleached blond hair, and speaks with a northern Newcastle or Georgie-type accent.
The man went into the shop, which has asked not to be identified, just after 1pm on Wednesday 9th September.
He asked to view a pair of pearl earrings from a window display and then took the £54,000 ring, pictured, while the sales assistant was distracted. He then made his excuses and left the store.
The stolen ring is described as an eight-claw diamond solitaire, set with a round brilliant-cut diamond in a platinum double gallery wire setting, on an 18ct stamped shank with knife edge shoulders.
Bath PC Daniel Arthur said: “The suspect for this incident has brazenly walked into a jewellery store and calmly left having pocketed a £54,000 piece of jewellery.
“He is likely to have either attempted to sell or trade the item on quickly to an unsuspecting trader or individual.
“This is not your average opportunist thief – he is likely to have done this before and may well be planning his next theft.
“He may not be local to the Bath area and I am appealing to the public for their help in identifying him.
“If you recognise him or can provide any information regarding his identity, his whereabouts or the location of the ring please get in touch.
“The store has good CCTV footage and I am confident that with the public’s help he can be identified.”
Anyone who recognises the man, or has seen the ring or seen it offered for sale, is asked to call 101 quoting reference number 99721/15.
