By Craig RobinsonA JEWELLER is offering a £1,000 reward for the safe return of a number of antiques and specialised items were stolen from his shop.Burglars struck at Black Dog Antiques in Earsham Street, Bungay, between 5.

By Craig Robinson

A JEWELLER is offering a £1,000 reward for the safe return of a number of antiques and specialised items were stolen from his shop.

Burglars struck at Black Dog Antiques in Earsham Street, Bungay, between 5.15pm on Thursday and 6.55am on Friday.

Several cabinets were broken into and jewellery, including about 60 green leather ring cases, each containing a ring, and a large quantity of silver-set amber jewellery, was taken.

Nigel Gardner, jeweller and goldsmith at the shop, said: “I just want to get the jewellery back. The reward is a small price to pay if it's returned.

“It's not the sort of jewellery that you would see on the high street, it's very specialised and individual, most of it over 100 years old which I have restored myself.”

He added: “The amber pieces are very unique and I'm hoping that this might catch the thieves out.

“Unlike gold, which can be melted down and sold for its weight, there is no value in breaking amber down. Hopefully, this might be their undoing because if they try to sell it, people will call the police.

“I'm absolutely devastated - that's the only word I can use. I can't put a price on what I have lost.”

But Mr Gardner said he was determined to carry on with business as usual despite still being in “total shock.”

He added: “The fact that we were robbed was discovered at 7am by someone that lives next to the store. They saw that we had been broken into and called us. My wife answered the phone and broke down in tears.

“We didn't prepare ourselves for how bad it was. When we turned up we saw that every single case had been smashed and all the jewellery had been taken, apart from a few items that had been dropped.

“I'm in total shock, but I'm determined to carry on. I've been trading for 16 years from these premises and I already have enough for a small display and it's business as usual. I still want people to come and see me.”

Beccles police said they would like to trace three men who went into the shop on Thursday at about 4.45pm in connection with their inquiries.

All three were described as white, aged about 20 to 25, about 5ft 6in tall and of medium build.

One had short, dark hair and a swarthy complexion, another had longer fair hair and the third also had, short dark hair.

Anyone with information or who may have been offered items of jewellery should contact Beccles police on 01986 835300 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

craig.robinson@eadt.co.uk