Scooter riders filmed in jewel heist

A gang of scooter riders have been filmed breaking into a Knightsbridge jewellers with sledgehammers and escaping with exclusive jewellery yesterday.

A video circulating the internet shows fives robbers breaking into Boodles jewellers on Basil Street at 10.30am with pedestrians all around.

The Metropolitan Police have launched a manhunt and said in a statement: “A number of suspects had arrived on motor scooters, entered the store and then used hammers to smash their way through counter displays.

“The robbers removed property from the displays and then made off on the bikes. No one was reported injured. No arrests at this time.”

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Two-wheel crime in London

Crimes involving scooters in London have rocketed in recent years. Between July 2016 and June 2017 there were 14,943 thefts of “powered two-wheel vehicles”. A 30% increase on the previous year.

Many of those stolen vehicles then go on to be used in other crims, such as robberies and muggings. From June 2016 – June 2017 the Metropolitan Police registered 16,158 crimes using powered two-wheel vehicles, compared with 5,145 the year before. In 2014 they logged just 866, and only 317 in 2011.

Most recent thefts

Last month, a video posted online showed scooter thieves tustling with the owner of a scooter they were trying to steal, before a passer-by stepped in to halt the robbery. Also last month thieves on scooters were filmed breaking into a motorcycle dealership and stealing a rare Kawasaki H2 Carbon.

Also this month, a man was filmed chasing thieves away with a hammer as they tried to steal his scooter in Battersea.

In December 2016 thieves were filmed threatening members of the public with power tools as they tried to steal a Ducati 1299 Panigale.

Police are appealing to witnesses with any information or footage of scooter-related crimes to call 101, tweet @MetCC or phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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