THIEVES stole collectable cuddly toys worth more than £2,000 from a North Yorkshire shop.

Steiff teddies, cats, dogs, rabbits and lambs were stolen, including a rare 2014 Jubilee teddy bear, from Whitby Glass in Sandgate, on Friday, March 21.

CCTV shows two men and a woman walk towards the shop at about 11.20pm, before the men broke the window while the woman kept watch. She suspects were seen to walk through the Market Place, into Church Street via Bridge Street, and back into Sandgate, taking items from the shop until 11.50pm.

A police spokesman said a number of people were dropped off or picked up by taxis in the area at the time, and urged anyone with information to contact them.

PC Mark Hawes of Whitby Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “Due to the number of people in the area at the time of this break-in, I am hopeful that someone may have seen the suspects but not realised what they were up to at the time.

“The Steiff toys have individual item numbers and if you are offered one for sale and have concerns, please contact Whitby Police or Whitby Glass, who will be able to check the numbers against the stolen items. I also urge anyone who is offered a Steiff item for sale under suspicious circumstances to please call the police.”

One of the men was wearing a top which was light-coloured on the body and dark-coloured across the shoulders and arms. The woman was carrying an orange bag which was used to carry the stolen items from the scene.

Anyone with information should phone police on 101.