Reckless robbery –two still at large
TERRIFYING SMASH AND GRAB AT JEWELLERS
AN ARMED robber who was detained by members of the public after he took part in a smash-andgrab robbery at a jewellers in West London has been jailed.
Ben Wegener and two accomplices drove a black Range Rover through the front of a jewellery shop in Uxbridge Road, Shepherd’s Bush at 5.20pm on October 25 last year.
The shop’s glass immediately shattered and the vehicle narrowly missed the people inside.
The robbers got out of the vehicle and then smashed the glass display cases using a sledgehammer and a hammer, and put items of jewellery into bags.
By this time, a large number of onlookers had gathered outside.
Having ransacked the store, the suspects attempted to flee the scene.
First, the three robbers tried to escape from where the vehicle had entered, but members of the public – one armed with a large black pole – confronted them.
Because of this, they smashed the shop’s front door and ran out onto Uxbridge Road.
Wegener, 34, of no fixed address was detained until police arrived a few minutes later.
He was subsequently arrested and later charged with robbery, dangerous driving, and possession of offensive weapon, criminal damage and receiving stolen goods.
Wegener pleaded guilty to the offences on November 26 and on Thursday January 16 at Isleworth Crown Court, he was jailed for 10 years.
In court, it was heard the Range Rover used by the robbers was recovered by police and found to have been stolen from an address in Wandsworth earlier that month.
Detective Constable Sam Weller, who led the investigation, said: “This was a reckless robbery committed in front of shoppers on a busy high street.
“It was sheer luck that no one was seriously injured when the vehicle smashed through the shop front, and the shop owner and customers were threatened with serious violence when the robbers were inside. The raid was thwarted by members of the public who chased down and held Wegener as he tried to escape.
“This was a terrifying incident for the victims and everyone who witnessed it unfold, and Wegener will now spend a significant period of time in jail.”
DC Weller added: “Unfortunately, his two accomplices left the scene and remain outstanding. We will continue to pursue leads in order to identify them, and we would urge anyone who has information about those people to contact police.”
Anyone with information concerning the identity of the outstanding suspects is asked to call police on 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC quoting CAD 5782/25 Oct. To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org