Shrewsbury jewel thieves try to unfasten necklace
Thieves are trying to steal jewellery by taking it from around their victims’ arms and necks while apparently trying to sell them other items, police warned today.
The crooks place chains around victims’ necks or push jewellery into their hands, before taking the items back – and the victims’ jewellery along with them. Police issued the warning after two incidents in Shrewsbury.
They say although uncommon, when the incidents happen there tends to be a ‘spate’ before thieves move on.
Both incidents happened in the Sundorne area yesterday.
At about 12.15pm the driver of a car was flagged down by two women as she made her way along Claverley Road. The women asked her where the hospital was and one of them tried to fasten a gold-coloured chain around her neck and push other jewellery into her hand.
Constable Ben Oakley, who is investigating the incidents, said when the victim said she didn’t want any of them, the offender took them back but also unfastened the victim’s necklace.
“Fortunately, she realised what had happened and snatched her necklace back before the two women walked off towards Meadow Farm Drive,” he said.
“In the other incident around the same time, a woman walking with her baby in a pushchair in East Crescent was approached and also asked for information about the local hospital. However, there were other people around and the suspect walked away without trying to steal anything.”
He said the suspect got into a purple or blue Hyundai or similar car and was driven off towards Allerton Road.
Both women had dark or olive complexions and were wearing ‘gipsy-style’ clothing. One was in her late teens or 20s and the other much older, in her 60s or 70s with ‘very bad’ teeth.
Victims are urged to contact police on 101.