Moment thieves flee with £60,000 gold chains before launching vicious attack on the jeweller who chased them

By JAMES FIELDING, SENIOR REPORTER and BEN ENDLEY, REPORTER Published: 09:22, 8 August 2026 | Updated: 09:22, 8 August 2026 This is the moment thieves fled with £60,000 worth of gold chains before attacking a jeweller who chased them. Steve Sharp, 57, was punched and kicked after pursuing the men from his rural workshop near St Cleer, Cornwall, on Thursday afternoon. The men were only on his property for three minutes but made off with eight 9ct gold hallmarked chains worth more than £60,000. Steve allowed them through a security gate believing they were a customer who had made an appointment. In CCTV footage obtained by the Daily Mail the men can be heard claiming to be on holiday in the area and heard about the shop. Moments later they can be seen running down the drive and falling as Steve gives chase. Mr Sharp said: 'They were talking in their own language which I think was Romanian or Albanian, they were asking about necklaces and I got a tray out of my safe and put it on my display counter. 'One guy grabbed a whole lot up still attached to a display case, he shook the case off and they just ran. Two thieves were caught on CCTV fleeing with £60,000 worth of gold chains - before attacking a jeweller who chased them The two men had claimed to be on holiday in Cornwall and heard about the shop CCTV footage showed the coming through a security gate, with the owner believing they were a customer who had made an appointment The men fled from with eight 9ct gold hallmarked chains worth more than £60,000 Steve Sharp (pictured) was punched and kicked after pursuing the men on Thursday afternoon The men are believed to be Roma Gyspy 'I realised what was happening and shouted 'I'm being robbed' then chased them up the driveway. 'One ran up the road, the other went to the car and drove off. 'The guy in the black Godfather t-shirt was running and heard me chasing him and turned around and came at me with fists flying, he started punching and kicking and did land one on the left side of my face smashing my glasses. 'I ended up in the hedge and he got in the vehicle. My neighbour heard what was happening and threw a rock which smashed their windscreen. 'It was all over and done with in less than three minutes.' Worse still, the jewellery was not insured because Steve's previous insurer dropped him after he made a claim for damage to his security gate caused by a car backing into it. Since posting pictures of the men on Facebook Steve says he has been contacted by members of the Roma Gypsy community claiming to know the men's identity and offering to tell him in return for a cash reward. Steve says he suspects the chains will soon be melted down - if they haven't already but urged other jewellers to be on the lookout for the men. He said: 'In 15 years I've never had anything this bad before, I'm self-taught and make most of the jewellery myself. 'I was definitely targeted because the shop is so remote you have to mean to come here. 'My opinion is I've made the stolen jewellery so hot. I think they will be melted down but somebody's going to recognise these people 'I'm very confident they are Roma gypsies - people in the community have contacted me claiming to know the men and asking if I'm offering a reward.' Smash and grab style jewellery thefts are becoming endemic across the UK. SaferGems intelligence network reported more than £2 million in jewellery stolen from UK stores in the first six weeks of 2026 alone A Devon and Cornwall police spokesman said: 'We have been made aware following a report of a burglary and assault in the St Cleer area on the afternoon of Thursday 6 August. 'It was reported that two men attended a property to buy some jewellery. 'It was reported one of the men distracted the seller while the other stole the items. 'The victim was then assaulted as he tried to apprehend one of the suspects as they made off. Enquiries into the matter are ongoing.'