This is the moment a balaclava-clad ramraid gang repeatedly ploughed a Mercedes into a jewellery shop less than one mile from a police station before fleeing with their stash.
Details of the Raid
The raid, which was captured on CCTV, saw a £35,000 black Mercedes C-Class back up toward the store front before reversing into it at speed, triggering the burglar alarm. Footage of the incident - which occurred on Saturday at 3.30am - then becomes momentarily clouded as dust and debris is thrown up into the air from the collision.
One of the two masked raiders then emerges on foot while the vehicle smashes through the metal shutters of Jay Shree Krishna Jewellers with ease on the third attempt. The balaclava-clad duo then spend only 40 seconds stealing from the shop, which is located on Northholt Road in South Harrow, west London, before fleeing on foot as a vehicle passes by.
Proximity to Police Station
The incident - which occurred less than one mile from Harrow Police Station - is now being investigated by the Met Police. Those local to the jeweller appeared in disbelief that such a theft happened so close to a police station. A man named Yousef said, 'The police station is 30 seconds up the road,' while another added: 'The police station is literally two minutes away by the way.'
Other locals also expressed their concerns at the burglary. Christina Shrestha Jirel said: 'Oh my God. I hope everyone is okay.' Another described the event as a 'shameful act by criminals'.
Police Investigation
A spokesperson for the Met Police said they believe 'several pieces of jewellery were stolen' during the raid. In a statement, they said: 'On Saturday, 9 May at 3:32am police were called to reports of a burglary on Northolt Road, Harrow. Officers attended and found that a car had driven into the front of a shop. The suspects fled the scene before police arrived. No injuries were reported. It is believed that several pieces of jewellery were stolen. An investigation is underway and no arrests have been made at this stage.'
Police are asking anyone with information that can assist their inquiries to call 101, quoting CAD 1086/09May.
Similar Incident in East London
The incident comes only weeks following a raid at Kalidas Jewellers in South Woodford in east London on April 28. The gang of thieves rammed a silver Mercedes SL-Class R230 into the front of the store. Two accomplices from a gang of thieves stood in the road while the driver of a stolen Mercedes SL-Class repeatedly reversed the car into the storefront. Even as a black van passed along the street at around 4.40am, the group continued undeterred. After approximately 20 seconds, the suspects breached the shop’s security barriers and shattered the glass entrance before looting the jewels. The trio then fled the scene in the Mercedes - a car capable of speeds of up to 155mph and worth around £25,000. Around £10,000 worth of jewellery was stolen in that raid.
