Six robbers armed with axes and bats used three motorbikes to smash their way into a jewellery store at Brent Cross Shopping Centre in north London. The raid on Fraser Hart occurred at 10:15 GMT, just 15 minutes after the centre opened to shoppers.
The pillion passengers dismounted and broke the display windows, stealing jewellery believed to be worth up to £2m, according to BBC London. The bikes then fled towards Hendon Central but were found about 15 minutes later on Ashley Walk in Mill Hill. No-one was injured, though an elderly man was treated for shock.
Eyewitness Claire Smalley saw the men pull up outside Fraser Hart with an axe, telling everyone to stay back. Sue Bangs, who was in John Lewis, described the incident as frightening, adding that all shops put down their shutters and customers were locked in for a while. Witnesses said the robbers appeared to target Cartier and Rolex watches.
Flying squad detectives have taken over the investigation. Det Supt Mark Strugnell appealed for anyone who saw the sequence of events or the bikes being driven from Brent Cross to Mill Hill to come forward. The suspects were dressed in dark clothing and wore crash helmets with visors down.
