A well-known jewellery store in Gatesville has been burgled, with more than R25 000 worth of items believed to be stolen.
According to witnesses, the skelms gained entry through the front door of the Egoli shop in Klipfontein Road just after 6am on Tuesday, before it opened for business.
They went behind the counter and got into one of the safes in the back room.
The front door of the family-run store had been smashed in, leaving shards of glass on the floor.
The burglars were apparently in and out the store in minutes.
The shop was closed on Tuesday, and the owner could not be reached for comment.
Another businessman in the shopping district arrived just after 6am to find the store front smashed in and police at the scene.
“It’s so sad, and this time of the year, for the store to get such a knock. And what about the customers who had entrusted their jewellery to the shop for repairs or even safe-keeping. That is going to be very difficult to explain,” said the store owner.
Police did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.