VIDEO: £40,000 jewellery raider in action

A HOODED burglary suspect was caught on CCTV during a £40,000 jewellery raid on a Rotherham town centre shop.

The man is a member of a gang who smashed their way through the roof of the Riverside Precinct premises shared by the Gold Den jewellers and Lionel’s Watch Shop between 1.45am and 2.30am on Good Friday.

Police have now released the CCTV footage showing the  man wearing a hooded top crawling through a door into a kitchen area before entering the main shop.

Gold chains, bracelets, rings, earrings and watches were among the goods stolen.

A few items carry the “AH” hallmark and some the Rotherham United FC badge.

Det Con Iain Martin said: “It is likely that this was a carefully planned raid.

“The offender on the CCTV footage appears to be male, about 5ft 6in to 5ft 8in tall with a slim build and wearing light coloured tracksuit bottoms and a light coloured hooded top.

“He may also have been wearing a pair of glasses during the break-in.

“I am almost certain that this person on the CCTV footage did not act alone and that there would have been others involved with either planning the raid or taking part in breaking through the roof of the building.

“I would especially like to speak to a man who was seen stood on Corporation Street near to the Tesco bridge entrance around the time of the break-in.”

Anyone with information should contact officers at Rotherham CID on 01709 832 262 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

 A 27-year-old Swinton man has been arrested on suspicion of burglary and bailed pending further enquiries.