CCTV trawled in hunt for H Samuel ram-raiders

Police were today trawling CCTV footage of the ram-raid on a Walsall town centre jewellers and appealed for more information on the crooks' getaway car.

Raiders crashed into H Samuel in Park Street in the early hours of yesterday then escaped in another vehicle with a haul of jewellery.

Officers are hoping forensic evidence such as fibres caught in the shop window as the raiders squeezed into the store will help identify the culprits.

Spokeswoman for the jewellery chain, Linda Kellner, said the firm hoped to have the store open later this week. She said: "We are currently working with police, using our security systems, in order to identify the thieves and recover the items.

"Our efforts are currently focussed upon ensuring the welfare of our staff and putting the store back together in order to minimise disruption for customers during this busy Christmas shopping period.

"We hope to reopen later this week."

Police are appealing for anyone who was around the town centre at about 4.30am yesterday and saw a car leaving the area at speed to get in touch with them, as they are trying to trace the getaway car. The amount of jewellery the raiders managed to steal is currently unknown as all the stock left in the shop is still being accounted for.

The Mitsubishi Pajero, which was used to ram the shop front and break the window, has been taken away for forensic analysis.

Read the full story in the Express & Star.