A MANHUNT is under way after a gang of thieves stole jewellery worth £20,000 from a Test Valley auction house.

Burglars ripped up a safe that was concreted to the ground of the Shipton Bellinger premises during a 15-minute raid.

The gang struck overnight at Toogood and May’s auction house, in Salisbury Road, battering down a door to the property before cutting the safe, containing thousands of pounds worth of high-value stock, out of its concrete base. Among the items stored in the safe was a rare 1961 Rolex Daytona watch worth more than £8,000 and a six-carat double diamond ring valued at £7,000, both of which were insured.

Auction house owner Mike Barrett told the Andover Advertiser: “I’m a professional who has run night clubs, pubs and bars and I’ve dealt with all types of people.

“They’ve done a job but I’m insured and no one has got hurt. The only thing I’m suffering with is just putting in the insurance claim.”

The smash-and-grab raid took place between 10.20pm and 10.35pm on Saturday, November 29.

Police believe a gang of at least two or three people would have been involved.

A spokesman for Hampshire police also confirmed that they believe the thieves used a larger type of vehicle to transport their haul and flee the scene.

Detectives are now appealing for witnesses to contact Andover Police Station by phoning 101.