A THIEF made off with watches worth thousands of pounds in a smash-and-grab raid at a jewellers.

Detectives have launched a hunt for the man, who forced a window at Laing the Jewellers on George Street in Edinburgh during the early hours of yesterday morning.

The break-in is the latest in a series of raids to hit Edinburgh shops in recent years, and the second time the jewellers has been targeted.

Last year Michael Hood, 32, was found guilty of stealing watches and jewellery worth £1.3 million from Hamilton & Inches in Edinburgh and sentenced to eight years.

Matthew Ferry was also jailed for 13 years for stealing watches worth hundreds of thousands of pounds in a previous raid at Laings.

One gang that raided an RBS in Edinburgh also struck in Glasgow. CCTV footage and photographs showed them smashing their way into display cabinets to grab their haul in the Argyll Arcade and stealing £230,000 of goods from the Rox. The gang was sentenced to a total of 40 years in prison.

A hunt was also launched for “incredibly brazen” thieves who apparently used sledgehammers to break into a luxury store, stealing Lois Vutton handbags worth £80,000 from an upmarket shop in Multrees Walk in December.

Police have appealed for witnesses to the latest break-in, saying that watches were thought to be collectively worth a five-figure sum.

The suspect is described as a man around 5ft 10inches tall, with a slim to medium build. He was wearing an all-grey tracksuit with the hood pulled over his head. His face was obscured and was carrying a white or grey holdall.

Officers have urged anyone who can assist with their inquiries to come forward.

Detective Constable Michael Campbell of Gayfield CID said: "We're appealing for any members of the public who may have seen a man matching this description in the area around 1am to get in touch.

"We'd also ask anyone with information about the whereabouts of the stolen watches to come forward.

"If you purchase stolen items, knowingly or otherwise, these can be returned to their rightful owners meaning a financial loss for yourself. Always go through a reputable seller, or ensure that you see proof of ownership before purchasing items such as jewellery."