Three metal-pole wielding crooks ram-raided and stormed a jewellery shop in Bradford yesterday in a chaotic failed heist while terrified customers fled with a baby.
Failed Ram-Raid Attempt
A gang of balaclava-clad thieves attempted a mid-morning raid on Bradford Jewellers, West Yorkshire, as plumes of smoke billowed out of the shop and the building's alarm sirens wailed. As the dramatic heist took place, four customers and a baby fled the destroyed store right next to the masked crooks who stormed in at about 11:30am on 11 May.
The attempted robbery lasted 30 seconds and the suspects only managed to breach the shop's security barriers and not the jewellery cases, failing to steal any jewellery. The three suspects used a vehicle to ram-raid the store which left rubble, glass and the vehicle's duct-tape covered bumper on the street.
Arrest Made
One man was arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery and remains in custody. The raid is the latest in a growing number of attempted ram-raid robberies on jewellery stores in the UK.
In the footage captured by a witness, one customer escaped the jewellers before a thief with a metal baton stepped over the bumper and into the smashed shop front. The thief then came face-to-face with another terrified customer but slipped right past him into the smoke-filled shop.
Another crook holding a backpack stood adjusting his balaclava outside, while the third accomplice stood further down the road. A woman managed to escape after she jumped over the destroyed stone wall and rubble. She immediately turned and along with the other customers who fled helped evacuate a woman holding a baby. They then ran away.
As the customers fled, the first thief slipped as he left the store without any stolen goods. He proceeded to jump around brandishing the metal pole as his accomplices with backpacks stormed the store. The suspects piled in one after another but it appeared their earlier ram-raid did not break into any jewellery casing, only the shop front. Upon realising there is nothing to steal, the group fled with empty backpacks and batons in hand.
Police Investigation
A West Yorkshire police spokesperson said: 'At 11.37am (11 May) officers were called to report of a ram raid at a jewellery shop on Barkerend Road, Bradford. Three suspects gained entry to the shop using a vehicle, nothing was stolen. A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery, he remains in custody.' West Yorkshire police are investigating.
