Ram-raiders burst into royal jewellers and steal diamond rings and watches
It wasn't subtle, it wasn’t glamorous - but it was devastatingly effective.
This is the scene after thieves ram-raided Royal jewellers Mappin & Webb in a Vauxhall Vectra.
The gang crashed the car through thick metal security gates and ploughed headlong into the Regent Street shop in central London.
Smash and grab: After the raid four men were seen speeding away on mopeds
Smashing the glass display cases, they helped themselves to handfuls of diamond rings and jewel-studded watches.
Their haul, from the official silversmiths to the Queen and Prince Charles, is thought to be worth tens of thousands of pounds.
After the raid at 1am yesterday, four men were seen speeding off towards Piccadilly Circus on mopeds. Police have appealed for witnesses.
Jonathan Kronn, the shop’s manager, said: ‘We are all fine, but the shop is obviously in chaos. We’re cleaning up at the moment.
Daring: The jewellers are the official silversmiths to Prince Charles and the Queen
'I can’t say how much they’ve taken, but it was watches and jewellery.’
It is the second raid on the central London store this year.
In January, balaclava-wearing teenage thieves - the youngest aged just 14 - snatched £40,000 of stock in broad daylight after threatening staff with hammers.
They were caught after an off-duty policeman raised the alarm.
Evidence: The Vauxhall Vectra is taken away to be examined by police
