THIEVES stole £20,000 worth of jewellery when they snatched a shopper’s handbag.

The astonishing haul came in a Kirklees supermarket in the run-up to Christmas.

Police in Dewsbury have now issued CCTV images of two people they want to trace following the incident on December 20.

The victim was a 61-year-old woman who was shopping in Morrison’s, on Union Street in Heckmondwike, at about 4.30pm.

She put the handbag in her trolley while she looked at some flowers.

A man and a woman walked up to her. The woman took the handbag while the victim was distracted.

The victim was not aware of the theft until after the suspects had left the shop and escaped.

Among the items they took were a bracelet, earrings, rings and three watches.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “She alerted security and the suspects have since been identified on the store’s CCTV cameras.

“Police are now releasing these CCTV stills in a bid to trace the offenders.”

Any witnesses are asked to contact Det Con Mike Parris at Dewsbury CID via 0845 6060606 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.