Vivienne Westwood store hit by moped ram-raiders
A moped gang smashed into Vivienne Westwood's store in Soho and stole 30 designer handbags worth thousands of pounds.
Four people on two Vespas crashed into the door of the shop in Conduit Street on Wednesday night before two of them ran into the store and grabbed the bags. They then drove off west towards Berkeley Square.
The bags, from the latest autumn/winter collection, are worth between £200 and £800 each and it is estimated their total value runs into tens of thousands of pounds.
The first Vespa was black with distinctive red wheels and the second was silver. No arrests have been made.
Although police say it is too early to link the smash and grab to similar style robberies in the area, it is the latest in a string of similar raids on designer stores in London.
Thieves smashed their way into Chanel in Brompton Road in April to make off with handbags worth thousands of pounds. A day later thieves targeted a jeweller's in King's Road with a sledgehammer.
Last month thieves on mopeds threw watches at police as they fled with a £500,000 haul from Fraser Hart jewellers in Kingston. A raid also took place on jewellers De Beers and Swiss watchmaker Omega in the City.
Police are also investigating a £600,000 break-in at a Mayfair jewellery store whose customers include Sir Elton John. Thieves are believed to have broken into Chatila jewellers in Old Bond Street through the roof after climbing scaffolding in the street. Staff discovered the break-in after the bank holiday weekend.
Anyone with information on the raids should call 020 7321 8686 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
