Police step up hunt for man over theft of £5,000 ring from York shop

This is the man police want to talk to over the theft of a £5,000 ring from a York shop.

He is Michael Walker – but he remains at large despite extensive efforts to trace him, including an appeal on BBC’s Crimewatch.

At 1.15pm on Friday, February 5 a man entered a jeweller’s in High Ousegate posing as a customer. He asked to look at two rings.

After the sales assistant took them out of the display, he distracted her and snatched one of the rings, which was worth more than £5,000.

Distinctive tattoo

Police investigating the incident would like to trace 31-year-old Mr Walker. He is originally from Liverpool and is currently believed to be in the Merseyside area. He speaks with a Liverpool accent.

Mr Walker is 6ft tall, proportionally built and has brown eyes. He has a distinctive tattoo on the inside of his right wrist which reads “Kelly Hunter” and a scar on his scalp.

However, he often wears baseball caps and other headwear.

Police in Cumbria, West Yorkshire and Scotland also want to speak to Mr Walker in connection with similar incidents.

Anyone who recognises him or has any information about his whereabouts is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police: details below.

How to help the police