A THIEF broke into a shop and stole £20,000 of jewellery – only to dump all the items believing they were worthless.

The bag of high-value dress jewellery was found by Norden High School pupil Kelly Grihault while out walking her dog in Great Harwood town centre.

The teenager was commended by police after handing over the haul.

Police said the burglar dumped the jewellery after breaking into B and L Gifts in Queen Street, Great Harwood.

Amazingly the shop was broken into again a few hours later and police believe it was the same hapless burglar.

This time he left empty handed.

Earlier in the evening the thief entered the gift shop after climbing in through a 2 ft by 2 ft window situated above the six foot shop door.

Officers said they believed the thief dumped the jewellery minutes after the burglary because he ‘wrongly’ thought it contained decorative pieces of little value.

Kelly said she spotted the bag on a pavement minutes after the burglary at 10.30pm on Saturday.

The 14-year-old said: “I was just out walking with my friend and her dog when I noticed a bag just lying there.

“I bent down to have a look what was inside and saw it was lots of jewellery.

“The jewellery had what looked like big gem stones. The bag was so heavy I couldn’t lift it so I called my dad who was just around the corner to come and help me take it to the police station.

“The officers said I had done really well handing it in and that made me feel really pleased.”

Kelly’s dad, Stephen Grihault, of Water Street, Great Harwood, said: “I am really proud of Kelly for doing the right thing.

"She called me and together we went to the police station. The officers were really impressed by her maturity.”

The shop is run by 73-year-old Barbara Porter.

Her son Leeroy Porter said: “The shop was targeted twice this weekend, it’s been a nightmare. The first incident happened on Saturday and then it was targeted again in the early hours of Sunday.

“My mum is really thankful to the young girl who found the jewellery and is planning to give her a small reward.”

The theft was personal jewellery belonging to the owner.

Jewellery is not usually kept in the shop overnight. Security at the shop has also been tightened up.

DS Alan Davies, of Accrington CID said: “The shop is run by an older lady who depends on it for her livelihood.

“The jewellery was her own private collection rather than items on sale, which makes it even more poignant that it was found and handed in.”

Tia Rennie, sales assistant at Humberstones Jewellers in King William Street, Blackburn, said dress jewellery could be of high value.

She said: “Dress jewellery can be antique pieces or anything with coloured gemstones and diamonds.

“It can be quite flamboyant and brightly coloured with larger, precious stones like emeralds, rubys and diamonds.

“The thieves obviously didn’t know what they were looking for.

“If it is antique, it would have a lot of detail. If it’s a unique piece it would be quite easy to trace and therefore difficult to sell on.”

A 25-year-old Great Harwood man has been arrested in connection with the burglary and released on bail.