Two men took a woman hostage and stole nearly £40m worth of necklaces, rings and watches from a Mayfair jewellers in Britain’s biggest jewel heist.
The men, dressed in suits, arrived in a taxi at the Graff Diamonds jewellers on New Bond Street about 4.40pm on Thursday. They were buzzed through an airlock into the store, which caters for clients including Mike Tyson, the Beckhams and Naomi Campbell.
Once inside they threatened staff with handguns, forcing them to lie on the floor, apart from one woman who they ordered to open a display cabinet.
They stole 43 pieces of jewellery in two minutes before forcing a female staff member to accompany them outside. Police believe this was to ensure that they were not trapped between the store’s two doors.
Their haul included a pair of white, round, diamond double-hoop earrings, a yellow diamond flower necklace, a platinum white Marquise diamond ring and a Chronograph men’s 45mm watch.
Once outside, they fired a warning shot into the ground before fleeing in a blue BMW. Police say they then drove to Old Bond Street before abandoning their car in Dover Street when it collided with a taxi.
They changed cars, firing another gunshot into the ground as they were chased by members of the public, getting into a silver Mercedes which they drove through Berkeley Square, before changing vehicles again in Farm Street this time into a Ford Galaxy or Volkswagen Sharan.
Duration : 0:1:35
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