A SHOP owner was threatened with an angle grinder in a "terrifying" robbery at a jewellers in Ormskirk in which tens of thousands of pounds worth of goods were stolen.

The shocking raid happened yesterday, Friday, just after 4.35pm on Moorgate when a man cut through a side window of the premises with an angle grinder and started taking items of jewellery.

The business owner rushed outside to challenge the man and initially chased him away.

But as the shop owner returned to the store he was then threatened with the power tool by the thug, who then continued to take more items from the broken window.

The suspect then rode off on a black mountain bike – which had white forks – with tens of thousands of pounds of platinum and white gold diamond jewellery.

He travelled at speed in the direction of the town centre, travelling via the Marks & Spencer car park, the alleyway leading to Moor Street, right at clock tower onto Burscough Street, along the alleyway by Weatherspoon’s onto Leyland Way to Railway Road, over the bridge and left onto the station approach, past the train station and onto the nearby footpaths.

The suspect is described as white, approximately 5"7 tall, of a medium build and aged in his early 40s.

He was wearing a black face covering, black T-shirt, black pants, sunglasses and a black cap carrying a black and white JD sports carrier bag on his back and wearing blue gloves.

Detectives have released CCTV pictures and are appealing for any witnesses or anyone who recognises the man in the still image to come forward.

Police also want to hear from anybody who has been offered any of the stolen items in the photographs for sale.

Lancashire Telegraph:

A CCTV of a man on a bike

Lancashire Telegraph:

Jewellery that was stolen from the shop

DC Kelly Rosenthal, of South Lancashire CID, said: “This was a terrifying incident for the jewellery store owner and he has been left very shaken up by it.

"Thankfully, he was not injured during the ordeal but we need to catch the man responsible.

"Although there has been no arrest made at this stage enquiries are progressing and we need the public’s help identifying the man in the CCTV still.

"We also want to hear from other jewellers in the area if they have been offered any of the stolen items for sale.”

If you have any information email 2496@lancashire.pnn.police.uk or call 101, quoting log 0994 of September 25.

Alternatively, call independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.