POLICE are trying to catch a brazen thief who stole two watches totalling £5,000 from a jewellers at Lakeside.

The thief strolled into Earnest Jones in the shopping centre between 9pm and 9.30pm on Wednesday, November 20 and used a tool to open one of the shop's cabinets.

He removed two designer Longines watches from the display and placed them in his pocket before leaving the store without paying.

Officers are keen to identify this man who was in the shop, on CCTV at the time that the two expensive watches were stolen from the jewellers. 

One of the watches was a Longines L27764213 with brown leather strap, white face and two small sub dials. The other was a Longines L47544524 with a black leather strap, stainless steel case and white dials.

The two watches together are valued at just over £5,000.

Anyone who believes they recognise the man in the images or who has any other information about the theft is asked to call PC Jennifer Gray at Grays Police Station on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.