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Moment thieves flee with £60,000 gold chains before launching vicious attack on the jeweller who chased them
Jeweller Steve Sharp, 57, was punched and kicked after chasing two men who stole £60,000 worth of gold chains from his workshop near St Cleer, Cornwall. The thieves posed as customers to gain access through a security gate before grabbing a display case of chains and fleeing, prompting Mr Sharp to give chase and be assaulted in the process. The case highlights a wider surge in smash-and-grab jewellery thefts across the UK, and comes with the added blow that the stolen items were uninsured.
CCTV footage showed the two men, who claimed to be holidaymakers, spending only three minutes at the property before making off with eight hallmarked 9ct gold chains. Mr Sharp was struck in the face during the struggle, and a neighbour threw a rock that smashed the getaway car's windscreen. He said his insurer had previously dropped him following an unrelated claim, leaving the stolen jewellery uncovered, and he believes the men are Roma Gypsies after being contacted by community members offering information in exchange for a reward. Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed enquiries into the burglary and assault are ongoing, while the SaferGems intelligence network reported over £2 million in jewellery stolen from UK stores in the first six weeks of 2026 alone.
In short
- Jeweller robbed of £60,000 in gold chains, then assaulted while chasing thieves
- Stolen jewellery was uninsured after a previous unrelated claim
- Police investigating; UK jewellery thefts reportedly on the rise
Explained simply
The attack took place at a jewellery workshop near St Cleer, Cornwall. The two men reportedly entered by posing as customers, then took a display case of gold chains and left; the jeweller was injured when he pursued them.
The stolen chains were hallmarked 9-carat gold, meaning they were officially marked to show their gold content. The jeweller said they were uninsured, so he may not be able to recover their value through insurance. Police say their enquiries into the burglary and assault are ongoing.
Jewellery thefts can affect independent workshops as well as shops, and can leave owners facing the cost of replacing stock. SaferGems, an intelligence network that tracks jewellery crime, reported more than £2 million in jewellery stolen from UK stores in the first six weeks of 2026.