Ruffell Jewellers broken into, thousands of dollars worth of watches stolen

Police have released a description someone they would like to speak to about the break-in.

He is described as tall, slim build and weathering a black hoodie, black pants and carrying a backpack.

The man smashed the window of the shop at about 2am, entered the shop and stole various watches, police said in a statement.

8.16am

ABOUT $10,000 dollars worth of goods were stolen during a break-in at Ruffell Jewellers early on Monday morning.

The break in took place about 2am at the Mitchell Street store.

Owner David Ruffell said the culprit took a couple of watches from one cabinet, but left the most valuable.

Read more: Extra security at Ruffell Jewellers a sign of the times

The person responsible spent more time smashing the front door than in the shop, Mr Ruffell said.

He said security footage showed the culprit took about five minutes to smash through the door, at about 2am.

Once in the culprit smashed one cabinet, grabbed the watches, and smashed another but left the jewellery from that on the floor.

OTHER NEWS:

Mr Ruffell found out about the break-in when he was woken at about 3am by police at his door.

It's the first break-in he can remember since his family opened the shop in the 1980s.

Police declined to comment.

Ruffell Jewellers installed extra security measures in 2017, after a spate of smash-and-grab robberies at Melbourne jewellery stores.

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