Pocket watches and wristwatches have been stolen during a raid at an Aberdeen city centre jewellers.
McCalls on King Street was sealed off for much of the day after the shop’s front door was smashed.
Officers investigating the break-in have been seen dusting the scene for prints after thieves climbed through the broken glass to get inside.
Owner Brian McCall said about “half a dozen” pocket watches and a few wristwatches were taken during the early morning raid.
Thieves ‘scooped’ jewellery in raid
After being alerted by police, Mr McCall, who has owned the business for 31 years, spent most of the day helping officers with their inquiries and cleaning up his shop which was left covered in broken glass.
He told The P&J: “They (the thieves) pulled off the grill that was on the door and they put a massive big stone through the door. There’s a lot of sharp glass left in the window, and they’ve climbed in.
“I have two counters arranged at right angles with another one on the corner, which is a tall one which they pushed over and they smashed up a table inside the shop.
“They went into the window and mainly took pocket watches, and pushed the shelves over.
“They were nice, it was quite a decorative show, but they scooped them away. I think it was about half a dozen and a few wristwatches.
“The place was a mess and the glass went everywhere.”
The window on the door has since been replaced, and Mr McCall, who is semi-retired, hopes to be back open tomorrow while still cleaning up the mess.
‘Positive line of inquiry’
Police have been carrying out door-to-door inquiries, while officers could also be seen looking in bins and doorways in nearby Frederick Street.
A spokeswoman said they are following a “positive line of inquiry”.
A police spokeswoman said: “At around 7.30am on Tuesday February 7 police received a report of a break-in at a shop in King Street, Aberdeen. Officers attended and are following positive lines of inquiry.”
Conversation