Gem thieves strike three times in brazen daylight burglaries

POLICE will be visiting second-hand jewellery stores after a series of brazen burglaries where diamonds and rubies were stolen.

Jewellery was taken from three homes in as many days with the latest break-in at Pownall Avenue, Bramhall, on Saturday shortly after 11am.

Thieves took a ladder from a neighbouring property and used it to climb up and remove a bedroom window.

Although they triggered the alarm the burglars were able to escape with a £500 Gucci watch and a silver bracelet worth £100.

In the early hours of Thursday a jewellery box was stolen in a break-in at Roseneath, in Bramhall.

It contained diamonds worth £3,000, rubies and gold rings.

Thieves had again broken in through a first floor window, using a wheelie bin to climb onto a conservatory roof.

They smashed a window to get out when an alarm when off.

Inspector Neil Cook, from the west area neighbourhood police, said: “To remove a window is unusual and shows a degree of planning and expertise.

“We will now be looking at various outlets for these items. We have a good relationship with most second hand stores and we routinely visit them.

“But incidents such as these, where valuable jewellery has been taken, will trigger additional visits from us.”

Officers will also trawl internet sites such as eBay and Gumtree.

Jewellery, as well as £70 cash, was also taken in a burglary at Cringle Drive, Cheadle, on Thursday between 11am and midday.

Three crooks smashed a kitchen window but were seen by a witness.

Police describe two as men aged in their early 20s, 5ft 11in tall and wearing grey hooded tops. One was white and the other Asian.

The third is said to be an Asian male in his late teens.

Insp Cook said: “The burglaries are involving people breaking in through the rear of properties.

“We ask people to lock their side gates and not to leave items such as ladders or chairs lying round that can be used by burglars to help get in.”

On the same a day a house on Bexhill Road, Adswood, was broken into at around 11pm and a boiler stolen. It is thought thieves will sell it as scrap metal.

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.