CROOKS broke into a jewellery shop in Walton by tunnelling through the wall before stealing a huge safe from inside.

Aquarius Jewellery and Pawnbrokers was targeted in an early-morning raid on Sunday.

The burglars broke into an adjoining garage and smashed their way through a wall, shared with the back of shop.

Once inside they stole a safe, rings and watches worth tens of thousands of pounds.

Police were alerted when the theft was discovered at 6.45am on Sunday morning.

The crooks are believed to have been in the garage since Friday, before breaking through and stealing the haul at about 2am on Sunday.

Investigating officer Det Con Andy Dodd said: "We believe that at least four men were involved in this burglary and that they might have worked over the course of two nights to break into the garage then break through the wall.

"We also believe that a small dark car and a large white van were used by the thieves. These might have been seen in the Mill Lane car park area.

"The large van would have been used to take away the safe and would have been very low on its rear springs. We want to hear from anyone who saw the vehicles leaving Walton and possibly travelling out via surrounding villages.”

Anyone with information should contact DC Dodd or his colleagues at Clacton CID on 101 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Read the full story - including an eye-witness account of the elaborate heist - in the Clacton Gazette tomorrow.