Burglars steal safe with £7,000 jewellery

A safe containing thousands of pounds worth of Asian gold jewellery with sentimental value was taken by thieves who targeted a firm.

The culprits broke into Atlas Commission Embroidery in Phoenix Works Industrial Estate, Wednesbury.

They escaped with a haul including four bangles, a necklace, ring, earrings and £50 in cash. Five men have been arrested on suspicion of burglary and are on police bail pending further inquiries. The firm's manager Kim Taylor today made a plea for the jewellery to be returned.

She said it had belonged to her 21-year-old stepdaughter Yasmeen Yousif.

Miss Yousif had been given the 24-carat gold jewellery almost a decade ago by her father and Miss Taylor's partner Mohammed, who owns the embroidery business in Richards Street.

Miss Taylor, aged 45, of Fullbrook, Walsall, said: "We were shocked when we came in on Monday morning and it was gone. The jewellery belonged to my stepdaughter. We were keeping it safe for her. She's really upset and angry about it.

"It has sentimental value. Her dad bought it her when she was in Pakistan when she was about 12 or 13-years-old.

"There were four bangles with lines in a pattern around the edge, a long necklace, dangly earrings and a ring. They are all solid gold. The bangles are worth £4,000 alone, so the jewellery must be worth £6,000 to £7,000 altogether."

She urged any shopkeepers who may have been offered the jewellery to contact the police.

Miss Taylor added: "They could have been melted down already but we would really like to hear from anyone who thinks they may have come across any of the jewellery."

The burglary happened on Monday. It is believed the thieves struck in the early hours.

Five men between the ages of 18 and 49 were arrested the following day.

Sgt Adam Keen, from Walsall police, said officers were committed to driving down burglary in the area and urged people to leave their properties secure.