LONDON – Police released pictures yesterday of two men wanted in connection with one of Britains biggest-ever gem heists – a £40 million (€46.6 million) armed raid on a luxury jewellers in London in which shots were fired.
The smartly dressed duo went into Graff Jewellers in Mayfair last Thursday afternoon, threatened staff with handguns and took a woman member of staff hostage.
They took 43 items – rings, bracelets, necklaces and watches – and fired a shot as they left the premises. The woman was abandoned outside and no one was injured.
Detective said the robbers made their getaway in a blue BMW, which they abandoned a few streets away, when a second shot was fired into the ground. The men then switched to a silver Mercedes and, in another swap shortly afterwards, some of the suspects got into a black car.
“This was a well-planned robbery with a number of vehicles used to help the robbers escape,” said Det Chief Insp Pam Mace.
“These men are extremely dangerous and fired at least two shots in busy London streets as they made their getaway.”
Media reports said the raid was thought to be Britain’s biggest such robbery.
In 2003, an international gang carried out a £23 million diamond armed raid at Graff’s. Two members of an eastern European crime syndicate were later jailed for 20 years for their role in the raid. – (Reuters)