The victim, who works at Haag's Jewellers on Cavendish Street, Chesterfield, was approached by a man as she returned to her car after closing up.

As she unlocked the blue Mercedes, which was parked on Sheffield Road near the Rutland Residential home, the offender threatened her with a knife and forced her into the back of the car.

He tied the middle-aged woman's hands behind her back and drove her to an unknown location where another man joined them.

They demanded the shop keys and drove her to St Helen's Street, Stonegravels, where one of the men left and tried unsuccessfully to get into the jewellers.

When he returned, both men left the assistant in the car. She managed to free herself and raise the alarm.

Owner Jonathan Haag said: "When I found out what had happened, I was just concerned with making sure she was alright. She was shaken up but has come straight back to work.

"She doesn't want this to force her out – it lets them win.

"I'm offering a substantial cash reward in the hope that the men who did this will be brought to justice. It was an awful crime, and we don't want them to target other people or businesses."

The kidnapping took place at 6pm on Thursday last week and Chesterfield detectives are urging anyone who saw suspicious activity on Sheffield Road, St Helen's Street, or at Haag's Jewellers around that time to come forward.

Det Insp Dick Severns said: "This was very shocking for the woman involved. She wasn't injured but was shaken up by her ordeal.

"We are determined to find the offenders who did this."

The kidnapper was white, tall, with blonde or gingerish hair and wore a dark jacket. The second man appeared to be white with a rounded face and wore a royal blue woollen beeny-style hat.

Anyone with information should call Derbyshire Police on 0845 123 33 33 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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