Burglars in £80,000 raid at house

Jewellery and silverware worth more than £80,000, including family heirlooms, have been stolen in a raid on a house in a Shropshire village.

A safe containing most of the valuables was stolen after a house in Onibury was broken into.

Police said the owners had offered a "substantial" reward over the conviction of the offenders and the recovery of the stolen items.

Thieves broke in between Sunday morning and Monday afternoon, police added.

Pc Will Quan, of Ludlow CID, said: "This is a high value burglary involving items of jewellery which also have huge sentimental value having been handed down through the family to the current owners."

Several of the jewellery items were worth about £15,000 each, "very distinctive and easily recognisable if offered for sale", police said.

They include a turquoise, diamond and white gold bracelet and a large large platinum engagement ring patterned with 52 diamonds around central baguette diamonds.

Pc Quan said a locked safe which may have been dumped was about 2ft high and cream in colour.

He added thieves broke in between 1100 GMT on Sunday and 1430 GMT on Monday by forcing a window.

Anyone with information has been asked to contact West Mercia police or Crimestoppers.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
West Mercia Constabulary
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites