Fresh calls for vigilance after spike in high end smash and grab robberies

Robberies have taken place across the country with premium watches, primarily Rolex, targeted by gangs of youths.

Most recently, six wielded machetes and hammers to force entry into Mappin & Webb in Regent Street in London and after smashing display cabinets, escaped on a single moped carrying a high value haul.

Celebrity favourite Dinny Hall in Hampstead High Street, north west London was also targeted by four thieves who forced entry, smashed most of the cabinets and left with several bags of items causing thousands of pounds of damage and loss.

Another smash and grab raid was attempted in broad daylight on watch store Watchfinder & Co in Avery Row, Camden, London though a team of 20 'have-a-go-hero' builders working nearby stopped them and called police. Again, the five suspects were on mopeds and carrying a sledgehammer. 

According to Lee Henderson from SaferGems, the crime stopping organisation with links to all the UK police forces, the recent spike in robbery incidents is confined mainly to London and the North West of England but the use of mopeds was on the increase.

"These gangs are mainly guys in their late teens and early 20s who were previously targeting mobile phones but have now shifted their attentions to fashion boutiques and jewellery shops, especially those selling premium watches."

Premium watches in high demand

"It is nothing new but moped use is going through the roof and with Christmas coming, we expect these offences to increase," he said.

In recent weeks, other robberies have been reported in Ilfracombe, Devon, Smethwick, Birmingham, Liverpool, Chichester, Letterkenny in Donegal, Burbage in Leicester and Wolverhampton.

"These raids are planned but not necessarily organised so I would advise retailers to take measures to avoid them, such as checking the CCTV and smoke systems and even removing stock each night. It is difficult to know how to deal with the mopeds but the police are making a lot of progress on tackling them.

Vandals caught on CCTV

"It is really important for anyone working in a jewellery shop to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to the police. So if you see a customer looking at the CCTV system or paying particular attention to the shop layout then it is really important to let the police know."