Antique robbery, antique suspects

Security camera photos of the two elderly men Cambridge police are seeking over the theft of antiques. Photo / Supplied

Police are hunting two elderly men, suspected of stealing 19th century collectibles from a Waikato antique store.

Security camera images from Alys Antiques in Cambridge show one of the men apparently shielding the other from view as he slips two antique coasters worth $750 into his jacket.

The two Sheffield-branded wine decanter coasters have wooden bases with silver bands around the edges.

Store owner Jutta Mark told the Herald the men - thought to be in their 70s - entered the store on May 25, and spent about 10 minutes looking around.

Ms Mark even spoke briefly with the pair at one point, not knowing they had already stolen the items.

She described them as "respectable", but wearing drab clothing.

"I spent some time talking to them about an old dessert set but they seemed a bit lacklustre ... they didn't really speak much at all."

It wasn't until they left that she noticed the coasters missing and checked the store security camera.

Within an hour, Ms Mark had printed photos of the pair, and was making pamphlets for local retailers.

Sergeant Gordon Grantham said it was possible the pair were antique dealers or had stolen the items to order.

"It's unusual to be looking for shoplifters in this age bracket. However they must have known the value of the items they were taking."

The men did not appear to be locals, and could have been in town for an antique fair being held in the town hall, across the road from Alys Antiques, he said.

Ms Mark said it was the second theft at the store in three weeks.

After a box of cutlery was taken, she installed two extra security cameras.

But the brazen pair had ignored the visible cameras, she said.

Both men wore glasses, and were balding with grey hair.

One wore black pants with a beige jacket, white shirt and dark-coloured shoes. The other wore a black jacket, blue shirt, grey pants and black shoes.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Constable Kelly Westerby at the Cambridge police station on (07) 827-5531.