A wave of violent smash and grab raids has swept across London, with gangs targeting jewellers in meticulously planned attacks. In one incident in Haringey, two men on mopeds used a sledgehammer to smash counters at Bilezzik jewellery shop, stuffing bags with gold-plated items while accomplices stood guard with a machete. A neighbour attempted to intervene with a kitchen broom, but the thieves escaped. The criminals remain at large.
Between January and March 2026, there were 18 such attacks across the UK, ten involving weapons, with £3.2 million worth of valuables stolen. Seven took place in London, now investigated by the Metropolitan Police's Flying Squad. In Richmond, two robbers targeted Gregory & Co jewellers at 10.30am, smashing windows and filling an Ikea bag with jewellery as onlookers filmed from a café. The owners described the incident as 'deeply upsetting'.
Experts attribute the surge to rising precious metal prices. Gold hit an all-time high of $5,500 (£4,100) per ounce in January, while silver peaked at £88 an ounce. Sarah Staff, a former Met detective chief inspector and head of SaferGems, said: 'Gangs appear to be targeting these premises in a very deliberate way. With the increase in precious metal prices, jewellery has become even more desirable.' Gold's ease of melting down makes it particularly attractive to criminals.
The raids have fuelled public concern about safety on high streets and in affluent areas. Videos of the attacks are widely shared online, amplifying fears. The Met's Flying Squad continues to investigate, but no arrests have been made in the Haringey case.
