A stolen car used in a dramatic ram-raid on a jewellery shop may have been driven around by the thieves for a week before the break-in.
Raiders escaped with a large amount of rings, brooches and earrings after using the white Vauxhall Astra to force their way into the MGJ jewellery shop in St Martin's Street, Wallingford.
The thieves attached a plank of wood to the car, which they used as a battering ram to smash their way into the store.
Staff are still counting the cost of the raid, which took place in the early hours of Saturday, February 12.
Police are appealing to the public to come forward with sightings of the car, which had been stolen in Oxford the previous week. Following the raid, the car was found abandoned outside the rectory in nearby Castle Street. It contained several items of jewellery which had been discarded by the thieves.
It is not known whether the thieves used a second vehicle to leave the scene or if they escaped on foot.
Pc Dave Biggs, of Wallingford police, said: "The car was missing for one week prior to the incident. If it was being driven around it could have been spotted.
"Alternatively, it could have been hidden and then used. We are keen to hear from anyone who has any information where that car was for the week."
Police believe the raiders may have had local knowledge. Pc Biggs added: "Smash and grabs like this don't take long to execute, and usually take place in under five minutes. "We are not ruling out the possibility that one of the offenders was a local person or someone with connections in the Wallingford area."
If you can help, call Pc Biggs on 01235 776000.
Story date: Tuesday 22 February
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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