POLICE investigating an attempted smash and grab raid at a Felixstowe jewellery store have today thanked the public for their help – and are investigating a number of lines of inquiry.

Officers still want to hear from anyone who saw the break-in attempt at Hill’s the Jewellers in Orwell Road, where the would-be thieves tried smashing the shop window with a hammer, which they then left behind at the scene as they ran off.

Dibbs Middleditch, who was shopping with her two children, Laani, nine, and Talia, five, said she was shocked to see the attempted raid happening in daylight in a busy shopping street.

“I didn’t really know what was happening first of all – my daughters said look at that, and we could see a man hammering at the window and there was a hole in the glass. They were making an incredible noise and everyone was turning round to see what it was,” she said.

“I was stunned. To see that happening in daylight in front of you was quite a shock.”

Mrs Middleditch, who with her husband Carl owns and runs Bushfire Photography in Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, called the police.

“There was a car there within a couple of minutes – the police response was brilliant,” she said.

The incident happened at 1.35pm Thursday. Witnesses said two men of mixed race were seen to run off towards Leopold Road. Both were in their late teens to 20s, around 5ft 10in tall. One wore a green hooded top, green padded Barbour-style jacket and jeans, and the other a grey padded Barbour-style jacket and dark coloured tracksuit bottoms.

A police spokeswoman said: “A number of active lines of inquiry are being followed up. We woild like to thank the public for their help, and also the media, and would still like to hear from anyone who may have seen the incident or has any information about those involved.”

? Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.