Samurai sword gang in raid on top 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 Street in front of terrified shoppers.
Wielding the sword, sledgehammers and knives, they forced their way inside and made off with valuables worth tens of thousands of pounds.
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, adding: ‘It looked like something from a medieval museum.’
It comes as the capital has been hit by a series of moped gang crimes which senior officers are struggling to stem.
In many cases teenage thieves raid prestige jewellers to order 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 raid as getaway took place vehicles. shortly The after latest 2pm yesterday. CCTV images showed at least four robbers, dressed in motorcycle jackets, helmets and gloves, threatening a guard at the store. A police spokesman said: ‘Officers are working to determine exactly what has been stolen. The suspects left the scene prior to police arrival and made off on mopeds. No one is believed to be injured. ‘A number of weapons used in the attack – including sledgehammers and knives - were recovered from outside the store.’