Manager tells of Beeston jewellery shop sledgehammer attack

STAFF were left traumatised after two men armed with sledgehammers tried to break into their shop – while they were inside it.

The men tried to break in through the window of the Onyx Goldsmiths jewellery shop in High Road, Beeston, at 9.30am on New Year's Eve.

They smashed the window but the shop's security system was triggered and a metal shutter came down, stopping the men from getting in.

They eventually fled empty- handed.

Managing director Erica Mucenieks was in the store at the time and spoke of her shock after the incident.

"Myself and my manageress were at the back of the shop making phone calls to customers when, all of a sudden, we heard a massive bang," she said.

"It sounded like a bomb going off in the street outside but then we realised what was happening. Two large men were attacking our shop window with a sledgehammer."

Although the shop was open, there is a buzzer system for letting customers in. Once the metal screen came down, the men fled empty-handed.

Ms Mucenieks said: "We are all in real shock after this, especially with it happening at this time of year. We couldn't go to our New Year's Eve parties because we were so upset.

"I'm just so relieved that they didn't get away with anything and proud of our security.

"We are a small, independent business but we put a lot of thought into our security system.

"Everyone keeps saying that they can't believe how lucky we were that nothing was stolen.

"If they had got through before the screen came down, they would have got covered in smart water-type dye, which would have meant they would be easily recognisable.

"I hope the men who did this get caught as soon as possible and that the public keep their eyes peeled for them."

Beeston Detective Constable Karl Aram said: "We believe the men arrived on foot from the direction of Derby Street.

"Did you see anyone carrying a sledgehammer in the area shortly before the incident?

"We also believe the men left the scene in the direction of Broadgate.

"If you saw anything suspicious in the High Road area of Beeston on that morning, please call us."

No one was injured in the incident.

Witnesses or anyone with any information should call Notts Police on 101, quoting incident 162 of December 31, 2012, or Crimestoppers anonymously on  0800 555 111.