TWO men used a sledgehammer to smash a window and steal watches and bracelets from a jewellers as shocked residents watched.

The thieves forced the security shutters open and smashed into a window display at Richard Anthony's jewellers in Deansgate, Radcliffe, in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Staff from a take away restaurant across the road filmed the men as they removed watches, bracelets and necklaces from the display and put them in to a rucksack.

Drivers stopped at the scene and residents challenged the offenders from flat windows above the shop.

Police said the two men then ran up Thomas Street with their hoods up.

Owner, Richard Anthony said he was alerted as the men were carrying out the burglary, which is the first break-in at the shop in 14 years.

He said: “They didn’t manage to take any high value items because we lock them away in a bomb proof safe, as does every other jewellers in the land.

“We suspect they’ve walked past our window and seen expensive watches and jewellery and thought they’d come back at night to take them.

“Luckily they only got away with low value items, so they went to a lot of effort for hardly anything.

“The people stopping, recording them, my neighbours shouting asking what they were doing and the take away driver filming them just shows how good the people of Radcliffe are.

“This is their town, they’re loyal people and they don’t want to see people taking from us.

“They want to see the businesses do well so I have to say a massive thanks to everyone.

“Police said they received six 999 calls as the men were smashing the window and arrived just after they fled.”

Mr Anthony said the items were insured although the damage caused has proved a major inconvenience.

He added: “It just seems like they’ve put time and effort in to a fruitless activity.

“They’ve got away with barely anything and instead left us with a smashed window and broken shutter.

“It’s a massive shame for Radcliffe because it already has a bad stigma, but the majority of people here are fantastic, friendly and honest people.

“I’ve been here 14 years now and only ever had two incidents in my time.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 and quote reference 0069/11/03/17.