Samurai sword raid on watch shop

A BRAZEN moped gang armed with weapons including a samurai sword stormed a luxury watch shop yesterday.

The gang raided Watches of Switzerland in London’s Regent St in front of terrified shoppers.

Wielding the sword, sledgehammers and knives, they forced their way inside and made off with valuables.

Security staff were unable to stop the men, who used helmets and masks to disguise their identities and escaped on two stolen scooters.

Witness James Whiting said he saw a sword blade that was “a couple of feet long with an antique-looking handle” on the pavement as he drove past.

It comes as the capital has been hit by a series of moped gang crimes that police are struggling to stem.

In many cases teenage thieves raid prestige jewellers before passing on the spoils to organised criminals to sell.

The trend has led to soaring numbers of scooter and motorbike thefts so they can be hidden and used as getaway vehicles. The latest raid took place in the midafternoon.