Armed gang grabs £1m of gems in raid

A GANG of thieves armed with hammers, machetes and axes took jewellery worth more than £1 million in a daylight robbery, it emerged last night.

The three masked men dressed in black stormed into Edinburgh jeweller Hamilton and Inches on Friday around 11.30am.

They smashed display cabinets and stole the contents before being driven away by a fourth man waiting outside the shop in George Street in a white BMW.

Last night, Police Scotland estimated that the robbers made off with a haul of more than £1 million.

The BMW was recovered by police a short time later in Gloucester Lane and is now being examined by forensic experts.

Detective Inspector Craig Finnie said: ‘Staff were left extremely shaken and a major investigation is under way to trace those responsible. We remain keen to speak to witnesses who were in the George Street area at the time of the robbery.’

A full inventory of the stolen items has yet to be put together but a £64,000 Patek Phillippe watch and a £50,000 Rolex Oyster Perpetual were among the items left untouched.

On the shop’s website yesterday, a statement said: ‘I am pleased to say that all of our staff are OK.

‘We will, however, be closed for business in order to make our showroom safe.

‘Please be assured that all of our customers’ jewellery is held safely in our vaults and is untouched.’

Ross Haston, commercial director at the shop, said: ‘Obviously, it’s a very serious incident and there’s a lot of damage inside.

‘I can’t comment on what has been stolen – our only concern is for the safety of our colleagues.’