BRAZEN thieves who targeted a jewellers in Cheltenham are being hunted by police after being caught on CCTV.

The theft of two diamond rings worth £3,500 each at Mann Jewellers in High Street was described as "professional" by bosses at the shop.

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Two men entered the premises just after 4pm on Saturday, April 24 and one of them asked to see a number of rings from the window display.

While holding one ring he asked to see a second. The request was refused but he grabbed the second ring and ran out of the shop with both items.

A second man, who was in the shop at the time of the theft, told staff that he was a police officer and would call the police using his mobile phone.

However, he did not contact police and shortly afterwards left the shop.

Owner Nigel Spurway said the store was quiet at the time as the thieves came in near the end of the day.

He said the men were wearing shirts and ties and at first glance there was nothing suspicious about the pair.

He said: "I have since looked back at CCTV and you can see that they were working as a team. The one inside looking at the rings was signalling to the man outside, who came in just before the chap ran off through the door.

"My opinion is they were professionals who came from out of town to do the job."

Mann Jewellers has been targeted before but Mr Spurway said the last time involved a local drug addict who police were able to trace.

"Something like that takes a considerable amount of organisation," said Mr Mann. "It happened so quickly, just £7,000 worth of rings out the door."

A spokeswoman for Gloucestershire police said: "Officers investigating the theft are eager to speak to the two men seen on the CCTV images as they may be able to help them with their inquiries."

Anyone who recognises the men should contact police on 0845 090 1234, quoting incident 320 of April 24. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.