Search for Melbourne jewellery thief

A Melbourne thief has snatched a chain worth almost $5000 from a shop assistant at a jewellery store.

The man, who was captured on CCTV, went into the Maribyrnong store on October 3 and asked if he could see a chain worth $4699, police said on Tuesday.

When the shop assistant showed the man, he snatched the chain from her and ran from the store.