Thief steals girls' body piercing jewels

Navel studs and bars have been the main target

Police in West Yorkshire are investigating a series of attacks in which body piercing jewellery has been stolen from teenage girls.

Detectives say a man has been approaching and befriending girls aged from 11 to 16 and demanding or snatching jewellery from them.

The initial approach to the girls is often made on buses.

Most of the attacks have been in Leeds but similar offences have also been reported in Horbury and Heckmondwike.

The suspect is aged between late teens and 35

Some of the incidents date back more than three years.

The latest was earlier this month when an 11-year-old girl and her 13-year-old sister were approached in Horbury after getting off a bus.

A man asked for directions to a local shop before turning the conversation to body piercing.

He then demanded the navel bar from the 13-year-old.

Pierced eyebrow

In another case in Bramley in Leeds a navel bar was ripped from a girl.

Detective Inspector Richard Whitehead said: "While there has not been any sexual assault or serious injury, these incidents are very disturbing to the victims."

An e-fit has been issued of the man police want to question.

He is said to be white, about six feet tall and with a pierced ear and a pierced eyebrow.