Cheltenham heist as £20k worth of jewellery stolen from store

Two men from Bristol have pleaded guilty after executing a high-value distraction heist at Strand Jewellers on Cheltenham High Street, escaping with jewellery valued at up to £20,000.

The Distraction Theft

The heist occurred on January 23, 2024, when Dolari Amet, 19, and Samet Zsiga, 20, entered the High Street store. Using planned distraction techniques, they managed to steal gold chains worth between £17,500 and £20,000. The pair then left Cheltenham and went on to carry out another high-value jewellery theft in Devizes, Wiltshire, on January 31, where they stole items worth over £8,000 from Estcourt Jewellers.

Police Pursuit and Arrest

Following the second heist in Devizes, Wiltshire Police tracked the suspect vehicle on the A350. Officers deployed a stinger device to deflate the getaway car's tyres near the M4, successfully stopping the vehicle and arresting both suspects. Gold jewellery from the thefts was recovered inside the vehicle.

Swindon Crown Court Sentencing

Both defendants pleaded guilty to multiple charges of conspiracy to steal. At Swindon Crown Court, Amet was sentenced to 20 months in prison, while Zsiga was handed a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years after the judge determined he had a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.