A JEWELLERY shop in Cirencester was broken into last night with masked thieves making off with jewellery worth a ‘substantial amount’ according to the owner.

A police spokeswoman said the 'aggravated burglary' saw four masked men force entry into Mann Jewellers, on Cricklade Street, at around 11.30pm on Thursday, stealing a 'large amount of jewellery'.

The thieves then made off in a dark coloured vehicle.

Giles Mann, owner of the independent shop, said he was alerted to the break-in at around midnight, with the police on the scene when he arrived.

“I got an alarm call saying ‘confirmed intruder’ and came down here at midnight.

“The police were here when I got here. They turned up and secured the premises.”

Giles, who lives in Gloucester and took over running the shop three years ago, said the police were at the premises for ‘around an hour or two last night’ before a forensic team arrived this morning.

“They [the intruders] broke the shutter, jimmied it up, smashed the front door and then helped themselves. Smashed the window cabinets,” he said.

Giles hopes to re-open the shop next Friday or Saturday but said the incident has meant a ‘loss of livelihood’ and it has ruined his Christmas.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting incident 506 of December 1.