Three men have pleaded guilty to a daylight smash-and-grab robbery at Gregory & Co jewellers in Richmond, London, where they stole £225,000 worth of diamond and gold jewellery. The raid occurred in January, with two masked men captured on camera using a sledgehammer to smash the window before fleeing towards Richmond Green.
Guilty Pleas and Sentencing
Deniz Mehmet, 28, from Basildon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob at Kingston Crown Court on Friday. Robert Clarke, 50, from Rochford, and Lee Ramsey, 46, from Harlow, admitted the same offence on May 22. All three have been remanded in custody and are scheduled to be sentenced on July 24.
Impact on the Community
The jewellers is located two doors down from the flat used as the residence of the manager in the Apple TV show Ted Lasso, which is filmed in Richmond. Locals expressed concerns that the show has made the area a target for thieves. Eyewitness Amy Hilton, 26, said: 'I was in the cafe nearby. I heard a thumping and then looked over and two men were bashing in the window. It was very shocking... The locals have been saying it could be the Ted Lasso series that has made the area more of a target.'
Resident Karen Lewis, 65, added: 'The filming has brought unwanted attention to the area. There are more burglaries around the green with thieves knowing the houses are empty.' Tony Puci, who lives near the jewellers, stated: 'The Ted Lasso thing has definitely attracted more criminals... I saw the raid on the jewellers it was in the morning and so shocking. I saw a bloke with a sledgehammer bashing the window. It was all over in under a minute.'
Police Investigation
Detective Superintendent Dan Mitchell from the Flying Squad led the inquiry. He said: 'Robberies of this kind cause real concern for residents and businesses... These guilty pleas mark a significant step in what has been a detailed and determined investigation. I hope they demonstrate our commitment to tackling smash-and-grab robberies in London by going after those involved, wherever they are.' Specialist officers reviewed CCTV footage, conducted forensic analysis, and recovered a vehicle linked to the robbery to track down the gang.
Crime Statistics
According to Metropolitan Police figures, neighbourhood crime dropped by 15.6% in the last financial year, equivalent to more than 40,000 fewer offences. Theft from person decreased by 21.4%, vehicle crime by 13.9%, and personal robbery by 13%.
