THIS is the man detectives want to speak to about the theft of three bracelets worth a total of £10,000.

The image was captured on CCTV at Beaverbrooks Jewellers, in Spurriergate, York.

A man snatched the diamond encrusted bracelets from the store in broad daylight on Wednesday, February 1.

He went into the shop and asked to look at some high-quality 18 carat gold bracelets, then grabbed them from the counter and fled from the store. Shop staff alerted the police immediately, but the man had already escaped.

Shop assistants said they had recognised the man because he had already visited the store to ask about the jewellery earlier that week.

He had dark hair and was smartly dressed in a dark suit, and a shirt and tie.

Security manager Keith Drury said: "It is something we are very concerned about. We are very keen to help the police and we want this guy caught as soon as possible.

"We believe he came into our store, and others in the town, a few days earlier. We think he was trying to build up a relationship of trust.

"He was smartly dressed and gave staff no reason to be suspicious of him.

"Fortunately in this incident nobody was threatened and nobody was hurt. We can replace our stock, but we can't replace our staff.

"The guy just literally snatched the items and ran. It was all over in a matter of minutes."

Information about the incident and the CCTV images are now being circulated around other jewellers.

Police believe the theft could be linked with a similar one from a store in Cheshire, and are working with officers there.

Detective Constable Peter Bentall, of York CID, who is dealing with the incident, said: "At approximately 4pm on February 1, a male entered Beaverbrooks jewellers in Spurriergate, York, where he was acting as a prospective customer.

"He was shown a quantity of high value jewellery, which he then ran out of the store with."

He believes the man may be local, because shop staff said he had a local accent.

On Thursday, the Evening Press told how a £14,000 ring was snatched from Bridge Antiques, in Bridge Street, Helmsley. A man asked to look at the ring, which was in a cabinet, then ran off with it. Police do not believe the incidents are connected.

Last month we told how Harpers Jewellers in Minster Gates, York, was raided by armed robbers, who made of with a haul of watches.

Investigators have not arrested anyone for the raid, which was carried out by three men with foreign accents, and are still seeking information.

Anyone with information about the Spurriergate incident is asked to phone DC Bentall, at York CID, on 0845 60 60 247

Updated: 11:15 Saturday, February 11, 2006