Burglars smashed through a wall in a neighbouring café to break into a jewellers. The gang came up with the ruse to breach the highly secure store in Wilmslow town centre.
Despite the trouble, they went to in planning the raid it is believed they left empty handed when an alarm was triggered. The failed raid targeted Preston's, which is heavily branded as an official Rolex watches retailer.
The Manchester Evening News understands the gang first broke into the café, went up to the first floor and smashed a hole in a wall to get into the gems store. But were foiled when they were unable to penetrate doors on the other side of the wall in the jewellers. Their attempts to do so set off the store's alarm.
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In a statement, Cheshire Constabulary said: "Detectives are appealing for witnesses and video footage following a burglary at a jeweller’s in Wilmslow. At around 11.35pm on Wednesday 27 April police were called to reports of an alarm activation at the Rolex store on Water Lane.
"Officers attended and on arrival they found that unknown offenders had entered the jewellers via a tunnel from a nearby café. They are believed to have fled the scene empty handed.
"Enquiries in relation to the incident are ongoing and as part of the investigation officers are appealing for information from the public."
Detective Sergeant Robert McCubbin said: “This investigation is in its early stages, and we are committed to doing all we can to identify the people responsible.
“The jewellers are located in a busy part of Wilmslow town centre and as part of our investigation we’re keen to hear from anyone who was in the area between 10.30pm and 11.30pm and believes they may have seen anything suspicious.
“The same goes for anyone with any CCTV or dashcam footage which may aid our investigation."
Anyone with any information in relation to the incident is asked to contact Cheshire Police on 101, or at www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us, quoting IML 1533656. Information can also be reported anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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