Hammer raid terror as teen gang targets Mappin & Webb

The masked raiders - the youngest aged 14 - stormed Mappin & Webb in Regent Street threatening six staff and two customers with hammers.

Today alleged gang members were being quizzed by detectives investigating links to a series of robberies at central London jewellers.

In the latest raid robbers, all wearing balaclavas, trapped their victims inside the store. They then smashed display cabinets with their hammers before grabbing watches and jewellery worth more than £40,000. The robbers then fled in a waiting van with two more gang members inside, driving off at speed through Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square.

But they were spotted by an off-duty police officer who raised the alarm.

As the van sped down Whitehall and past the entrance to Downing Street, it was intercepted by an elite team from the Metropolitan Police's diplomatic protection squad.

The van was blocked before it could reach Parliament Square and the alleged raiders arrested. Five teenagers - one 14, two 16-year-olds and two aged 17 - as well as a 20-year-old man were taken to a central London police stations for questioning, where they remain in custody. Police also recovered several hammers and some of the stolen items, including five IWC watches worth £40,000 alone.

Sources say it is the third time Mappin & Webb stores in London have been targeted in raids in the past two years.

The manager of Mappin & Webb, who did not want to be named, said: "All the staff were shaken but we are okay."

Workers at neighbouring stores said they were "stunned" by the audacity of the robbery, which took place as shoppers browsed nearby. Alberto Garzia, 23, supervising manager at Tommy Hilfiger, said the shop had been targeted before. "Last year they rammed a car straight through the doors and smashed the front. It is an expensive shop.

"There were four guys wearing balaclavas who went in and smashed the place up with hammers. You have to be worried and ask where was the security?"

A colleague, who also asked not to be named, added: "It's shocking. There are a lot of break-ins on Bond Street jewellers by biker gangs but I've no idea if this is connected."

A staff member at jewellers Swarovski, opposite Mappin & Webb, confirmed it was not the first time the store had been attacked. She said: "It is terrible. Last summer someone drove a car into the shop and now this."

Royal jeweller Asprey has also been robbed six times - and lost £400,000 worth of watches in one raid. Other stores hit include Cartier, De Beers, Tiffany's, Tod's, Chanel, Mulberry and Gucci.

Mappin & Webb holds royal warrants and is silversmith to the Queen and Prince Charles.

Witnesses to the robbery on Monday at 3.15pm are asked to call the Flying Squad on 020 7230 8666 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.