'Gut punch' theft of £2k vintage football shirts

The owner of a vintage clothing store says the brazen theft of £2,000 worth of stock felt like a "gut punch to the business".

The thief entered TopBinz Football Shirts in Montpelier in Bristol at about 15:15 BST on Tuesday and stole eight of their most valuable items from a clothing rail.

The England replica home football shirts from 1988 and 1996 bear the names of England legends like Alan Shearer, Paul Gascoigne and Tony Adams.

Staff usually let customers in via a buzzer system, but CCTV footage captures the offender lingering in the doorway and sneaking in behind another customer.

This is the first time the shop has had stock stolen since opening in January this year.

"Some customers had come in and left the door open behind them. We think he was hovering, waiting for the right moment," the owner said.

"I was in store helping a customer and he went straight to the most expensive England shirts and ran off."

British Transport Police attended the scene after the offender fled in the direction of Montpelier Train Station.

Avon and Somerset Police said he then "disappeared down the tracks".

He is described as a white man, about 6ft tall (1.8m), of medium build with a short beard.

The force urged anyone with information or anybody who may be offered replica football shirts matching the description to get in touch.

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