Thieves smashed the window of a family-owned jewellery shop in Ellon over the weekend and stole more than £1,000 worth of watches.
Police are now hunting the criminals, who targeted K&C Jewellers on Market Street, close to the roundabout, in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Officers are understood to be searching through CCTV in the area to track them down.
Owner Kevin Reid said the theft has been “soul destroying” for he and his family.
Because the front of his shop is covered in strengthened glass, he believes whoever stole the watches must have used a heavy implement, such as a sledgehammer, and would have spent a significant amount of time breaking through.
Mr Reid said: “It was in the early hours, they savagely banged the window to make a hole in it, which would have taken a considerable amount of time and effort.
“They would have been there for quite a while to get access.
“We haven’t got an exact estimate for the cost of what has been stolen, but it’s in the four figures.
“We’re also not sure exactly how many watches were stolen either, but it was a big display of watches.
“We’ve had other thefts in the past, people stuffing things in their pockets and that, but that is what comes with the job.
“I still can’t believe this happens. We’ve been in Ellon for 14 years, and we opened this new shop in November.
“We’re disappointed, because we worked so hard to open up a new shop for the people of Ellon, and we’ve been attacked like this.
“It’s pretty soul-destroying, because you would never think something would happen in a small community like this, so it’s a real shock that it has happened.”
Mr Reid is offering a reward to anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the thieves.
He has also urged those aware of people selling watches in or around the Ellon area to phone the police.
A police spokesman said that inquiries were ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to phone 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you wish to remain anonymous.
