CCTV footage has been released showing masked men smashing their way into the Clarendon Centre and burgling Goldsmiths Jewellers on New Year's Eve.

The video also shows three people police hope will hold the key to find the 11 men who stole a "quantity of watches” from the jewellers at 3.45am on December 31.

Detectives do know yet know the whereabouts of the burglars who broke in but hope witnesses will help solve the burglary, which is believed to be one of the biggest ever in the city.

Detective Inspector Jim Holmes said the force was not prepared to release the value of watches stolen to respect the privacy of Goldsmiths.

He added: “I am very confident there has been some reconnaissance done in the area and an element of planning. There is a level of organisation for this offence.

“We are keen to speak to number of people on the CCTV footage. One is a man who was carrying a suitcase through Cornmarket who passes the group of men.

“We would also like to speak to two men stood outside with two females.

“We have identified the two females, but we are really keen to speak to the two men, we can see their mobile phones up so we think they may have footage on their phone.

Oxford Mail:

“We are not treating them as suspects.”