BURGLARS carried out a smash-and-grab raid at a family jewellery store and stole three quarters of the stock worth around £15,000.

The shelves were stripped almost bare of merchandise by an unknown number of thieves who broke in to Howarth Jewellers in Market Street, Little Lever, on Friday evening.

Owner Mike Howarth said: “I’m absolutely traumatised. It’s devastating.

“They don’t realise what they put people and their families through.

“The uncertainty of retail is bad enough and this is the last thing that we need.

“We don’t feel safe.”

Howarth Jewellers had closed at 5pm on Armistice Day and all the staff had gone home.

The burglars smashed their way through a rear door at 7.55pm on Friday with something Mr Howarth believes would have had to have been a police battering ram or a similar piece of equipment.

They tripped the alarm in the process and in a panic ripped out the electricity meter – leaving live wires exposed and risking a potential fatal electric shock.

The intruders managed to turn on the lights and made their way to the shop where they broke locks and prised open window display cases and two wall cases, most likely with crowbars, before scooping the contents from the shelves in haste.

Mr Howarth said: “They were in for five minutes and they helped themselves to almost everything.

“We think they have probably had a look in the window beforehand and thought: we know where everything is positioned.”

Most of the stolen stock was second-hand jewellery such as pendants, rings, bracelets, chains and earrings.

New men’s and women’s watches from five high-end brands were similarly taken along with a few other new pieces.

The haul equated to about a three-quarters of the shop’s wares on display worth a cumulative £15,000.

The thieves wrenched a key-operated locked cash till drawer from the counter that contained a little bit of float money.

Mr Howarth said: “We have been able to reopen but we have barely any stock.

“No customers’ items have been stolen. I must stress that as I don’t want the public to be worried.”

The break-in happened about 10 minutes into England’s televised World Cup qualifying match against Scotland and Mr Howarth believes Little Lever Conservative Club across the car park was busy with patrons enjoying the spectacle.

He has no description of the culprits as has yet to speak to a witness.

He said: “There were lots of people in the Conservative Club and how people didn’t see anything beggars belief.

“If anybody is offered watches by Sekonda, Citizen, Seiko, Pulsar and Seksy or gold jewellery, earrings, bracelets, thin and heavy gold chains or anything related to a jewellers would you please contact me on 01204 578262 or the police 101.

“You will remain totally anonymous.

“If you were in the Conservative Club or outside smoking and saw anything unusual or at the takeaway next to the shop on Market Street please let us know.”

Howarth Jewellers has been operating in Market Street for 30 years and currently operates with Mr Howarth, three members of staff and an off-site jewellery repairer.

It has fallen victim several times to criminals although this was one of the worst incidents.

The sister branch in Mawdsley Street in Bolton town centre remains unaffected.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: “Shortly before 8.40pm on Friday, police were called to a property on Market Street, Little Lever, to reports of a burglary.

“Between 7.55pm and 8.40pm on that day, offenders forced entry into the property and stole a significant amount of jewellery.”

n Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 and quote the reference number 2241 of November 11 2016 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.