BREAK-IN AT TIFFANY’S
Gang’s 3am ram raid at luxury jewellers
THIS was the devastation yesterday after ram-raiders used a van to smash into a prestigious jewellers before fleeing with gems worth up to £1million.
The thieves drove the tipper truck into Tiffany & Co with such force that the window frame was torn from the wall.
Seconds later a group of burglars swooped in on mopeds and ransacked glass cabinets to grab fistfuls of jewels before speeding off just before 3am, leaving the van embedded in the store.
Yesterday, forensic officers were examining footprints left on the pavement, apparently showing the distinctive tread patterns from trendy Nike Air Force and Air Max 97 trainers.
Three police officers were seen standing guard over the trainer prints in Sloane Street, Knightsbridge – one of London’s wealthiest addresses.
The smash-and-grab raid – carried out in full view of passing traffic – comes just over a month after robbers used a van to break through the frontage of a Chanel store in the same street, escaping with designer goods worth thousands of pounds.
Detective Inspector David Watkinson said: ‘This was a brazen and targeted incident. Although the incident took place overnight, it is a busy well-lit area.
‘We are keen to hear from motorists who may have captured what took place on dashcam footage.’
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: ‘Police were called at 02.56am following reports of a transit van driving into a shop front of a luxury jewellers.
‘A number of accompanying mopeds then stole a quantity of items from the shop window.
‘All those involved left the scene, leaving behind the transit van.’
In 2005 a suspected thief died in a police chase after officers foiled a raid on the same store.
In a statement Tiffany & Co said: ‘We cannot comment on what may have been taken or its value.’