A JEWELLER has spoken of her shock after her high street store was targeted by raiders.

Gabrielle Warren, owner of Carlton’s Jewellers on Maldon High Street, was forced to cut her festive family trip short after her store’s front window was smashed and jewellery worth thousands of pounds taken.

Images from the store’s CCTV footage are believed to show two people breaking through the window and stealing rings and watches before fleeing at around 2am on New Year’s Day.

Ms Warren said: “I believe it was planned.

“The two people in the footage knew there was jewellery within reach and they looked like they used tools to break through the window and reach through.

“They seemed to be interrupted whilst they were stealing the items, as they ran off pretty quickly. There were other people in the street at the time.

“This has never happened before, I’ve owned the jewellers for 15 years and it’s never once been targeted.

“I was forced to cut short my trip away with my two sons and daughter to come back and deal with it, which is the thing that’s most upset me.”

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

The front window has since been replaced

Whilst several diamond items were taken, Gabrielle has reassured her customers that none of their jewellery that was kept in the store has been taken.

She added: “We carry out repairs and upgrades to jewellery as well as selling items, but all items that are brought in are kept in a high security safe, so they weren’t touched, just so none of my repair customers get into a panic.

“If anyone did see anything that night I urge them to report it to police.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We are investigating reports of a burglary at a jewellers in High Street, Maldon.

“This was at Carlton Jewellers, at around 2am on January 1.

“Two unknown suspects are believed to have smashed a window and taken several items of jewellery believed to be rings and watches."

Carlton Jewellers will be open as usual from January 6.

Anyone with information should contact Maldon LPT on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.