SMASH and grab thieves stole 15 Royal Doulton figurines after throwing a metal grid through a Bolton town centre shop window.

Thirty other figures were shattered when the grid smashed through the plate glass window at the premises of Joseph Bailey (Bolton) Ltd in Knowsley Street.

Detectives believe the thieves may have stolen the expensive figurines "to order."

Antique dealers and car boot sale organisers throughout the Bolton area are being urged to keep a look out for the stolen figures.

Police are studying video surveillance systems in the hope that the security cameras may provide a vital link which may lead them to the thieves. The 15 figures stolen are worth more than £3,000 and damage is estimated to be worth many more thousands.

The raiders struck shortly before 7am yesterday at the family run business. Police believe the thieves initially tried to throw bricks through the reinforced security glass window before eventually lifting up a metal grid from the road and hurling it through.

In addition to the 30 figurines smashed by the grid a revolving cabinet, worth £900, was also wrecked.

The stolen figurines are from the Royal Doulton Images range.

The figures are all tall elegant figurines in plain white. The distinctive figures stolen include one entitled Carefree - a figure of a tall girl with her hair blowing in the wind - a girl graduate, a brother and sister, a goose girl and one entitled "first step" - a mother holding a small child.

Store owner Vivienne Lee, the sixth generation of her family to run the business, said: "The thieves were determined and obviously knew what they wanted.

"When they couldn't get through the window with the bricks they found something that would do the job instead."

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