Footage has been released following an incident in which a man allegedly tricked a jeweller into handing over £6,000. The owner of the Jane Allen shop in Merthyr Tydfil claims he was deceived by sleight of hand from a man who had offered gold chains for sale.
WalesOnline previously reported on the jeweller's offer of a £10,000 reward for information on the alleged theft. Now we can release CCTV footage alongside a police appeal. South Wales Police wants to speak to the man wearing a baseball cap in the video in connection with the incident which happened at around 1.30pm on November 12 last year at the Merthyr High Street business.
The shop owner, who is in his 80s, said he tested the gold chains and found they were 18-carat purity. He claimed the seller initially rejected his offer of £6,000 before appearing to change his mind then handing over a bag and walking away with the cash. But when the jeweller inspected the contents they allegedly turned out to be worthless gold-plated trinkets.
He described the seller as having an eastern European accent. "I was upstairs working when he came in," said the jeweller. "He asked my employee if we buy gold and she said yes. He took a gold chain off his neck and my employee called me down. I took the chain upstairs and tested it. It was 18-carat gold – 750 per 1,000 parts pure – and of European origin.
"I came downstairs again and offered £1,500 for it. He then said: 'Do you want to buy some more gold?' He took another five or six chains off his neck which were also 18-carat.
"I offered £5,000 for them and he said no. I thought again and said £6,000 was the maximum for them. He said: 'No, I want seven.' I told him six was the limit and he said: 'I have to ask my mother.'"
At some point after the shop owner had analysed the chains and given them back the man allegedly swapped them for a bag containing "valueless" but identical-looking gold-plated chains. The seller then accepted the £6,000 offer, the jeweller claimed.
"It was a fine net bag and you could see the chains," said the jeweller. "That's how clever his game was. The real gold chains were in another bag. I don't know how he did the swap. It's entirely my fault – I know the ropes, I should have known what was happening – but he was very skilled. He's a magician, a trained artist. I know all about these artists because when I was a kid I worked at the circus and I've seen it.
"My employee asked if he wanted cash or cheque and he said: 'Cash is always better.' She cashed up £6,000 and put it in a large bag then off he toddled.
"As soon as he'd gone I went upstairs to the workshop, looked at one of the chains, and saw the end link was not soldered. I thought: 'Uh oh, that's not gold.' With gold they're always soldered. I went to see my employee and she was aghast."
The jeweller, who gave the "valueless" chains to South Wales Police, is offering a £10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction and recovery of the real gold. Asked how much the chains would be worth he said: "If I scrapped them there'd probably be about £1,000 profit in them. If I did them up and sold them it could be more. I could get the £10,000 back."
In a new statement South Wales Police said officers investigating the alleged theft are exploring "possible forensic opportunities". Sergeant Gareth Price said the force continues to appeal for help to identify the man in the footage and would like to speak to him in connection with the incident. "Anyone who may have any information which will assist detectives in their investigation is asked to contact us and quote reference 2200383107," he added.
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