Jeweller kidnapped and threatened

Artist's impression of one of the car drivers

A jewellery shop owner was kidnapped, threatened with a knife and had threats made against his family during an ordeal which lasted several hours.

The 62-year-old victim was ambushed as he came out of his driveway in Princethorpe, Warwickshire, on Friday.

He was driven to his shop in Sparkbrook, Birmingham, where the thieves stole his gold chain and keys, but nothing was taken from the shop.

He was eventually released unharmed although distressed, police said.

Held a knife

His ordeal began when a masked man held a knife to his neck through the car window on his driveway and he was pushed into the back seat of his black Mercedes by two other masked men and driven towards the Leamington Road, the B4453.

The man was then forced out of the car and into another green car with the three masked men.

Another two men got into the Mercedes and both cars drove towards Coventry and then to Meriden.

The man was let out of the car for a short time at Meriden and then taken to Sparkbrook, where the two cars separated.

The Mercedes went to the victim's shop, Punjam Zevar Jewellers in Stratford Road, while the green car waited in a nearby street.

Death threats

Police said the victim was forced to reveal the door code to the shop after the man threatened to kill his wife and family and set fire to his house.

Nothing was taken from the shop and the man was later dumped at Swanhurst Lane, Moseley after the thieves took his personal items.

The Mercedes car was later found burnt out in Moseley.

Det Insp Liam Barry of Warwickshire Police said: "This was a horrific experience for the victim.

"Not only to be forced into his own car and driven around, but to be threatened with a knife and threats made to his family must have been dreadful."

The kidnappers are described as mixed race.

Police want to speak to a woman driver who may have seen the them while waiting at lights on the A45 at the junction with Kenilworth Road.