Gun gang grabbed £∏m luxury watches in Gleneagles heist
ARMED raiders escaped with more than 50 Rolex watches valued at around £500,000 from a jewellery shop at Gleneagles Hotel, police said yesterday. Three men wearing dark clothing and dark hats brandished weapons as they ambushed the luxury Perthshire resort in broad daylight.
One member of staff was threatened with a firearm, but no shots were fired.
The gang targeted the Mappin & Webb store on the ground floor of the complex near Auchterarder, leaving staff and guests terrified during the incident at 11am on Tuesday, June 27.
They smashed glass display cabinets with a sledgehammer, grabbed their haul of high value watches and made their getaway in a blue Audi estate later found abandoned near Auchterarder.
Officers believe the men then transferred to a grey Range Rover Evoque.
Shortly after the robbery a hotel employee said the doorman had a gun pointed at him and had been told to ‘back off’ as the gang entered the building.
Yesterday, detectives made a fresh appeal for anyone with information about the raid to come forward.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Patrick, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘This was a particularly alarming crime in which three men made off with in excess of 50 Rolex watches worth half a million pounds from the Mappin & Webb store within the hotel.
‘During the robbery a firearm was presented at staff. Thankfully no shots were fired and no one was injured.
‘We are looking to trace the three men but we believe they may have had assistance from others.’
Mr Patrick confirmed that none of the watches has been recovered and that the Perth-based investigation team is liaising with forces throughout Britain.
He added: ‘Our extensive inquiries so far have established that the Audi car abandoned in Auchterarder was stolen from the Kent area in June.
‘The two-door, grey Range Rover Evoque was stolen from the London area in May. Both vehicles were bearing cloned number plates.
‘A Range Rover Evoque was later found burnt out in St Peter’s Cemetery in the London Road area of Glasgow the day after the robbery.
‘There is a strong likelihood this could be the vehicle used in the crime.’
Police Scotland has issued pictures of the haul, the cars involved in the raid and the type of sledgehammer which was used.
Yesterday, Mr Patrick said: ‘We have today released images of the watches stolen and an image of the hammer which was used to smash the glass cabinets.
‘The hammer was an Am-Tech 4lb sledgehammer with a fibreglass shaft which we were able to identify after reviewing CCTV footage.
‘I would appeal to anyone who knows where this item was purchased to contact us.
‘I would also appeal to anyone who is offered the watches for sale to contact us, particularly jewellery stores or pawnbrokers.’
More than a dozen firearms officers as well as dog teams and a police helicopter were sent to the five-star hotel, which was evacuated after the raid.
‘A particularly alarming crime’