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Six robbers took less than a minute to nab gems and jewels worth nearly £2 million, in a smash and grab raid.
The motorbike gang struck in daylight at a jewellery store opposite Harrods in Brompton Road.
On three bikes teh robbers sped up to Mozafarian at 11am last Wednesday.
One smashed the front glass and door with a sledgehammer while he and at least two others burst in and grabbed handfuls of jewellery.
Less than a minute after they arrived they fled - scattering jewellery across the pavement.
Store boss Sokol Salia said: "We knew something was wrong when the motorbikes left the road and drove up on to the pavement.
"There were six big guys with helmets and one smashed the door.
"All you could hear was the din of broken glass. They came in and took almost everything. There was a huge panic."
An elderly woman customer in the store was left crying with fear.
Shoppers outside were stunned by the raid and too terrified to intervene.
Mr Salia said that afterwards some passers-by helped pick up pieces of jewellery and return them to the store.
The most expensive item stolen was a £500,000 diamond necklace.
The store was targeted in a similar raid last June and was fitted with extra strong security glass.
The raid came just 13 days after the £40 million gems robbery at Graff Diamonds in Mayfair. Police say there is no connection between the raids.
Detectives are concerned that the robbery marks the start of a spate of new smash-and-grab raids on West End stores by motorcycle and scooter gangs.
Two months ago police arrested nine men suspected of staging a series of motorcycle raids on London jewellery stores.
Reader views (3)
Welcome to the new England, why not take a chance? you will be out in 5 years,and back on benefits, your live in girl friend with ten kids will be looked after by the tax payers,and you can carry on your scum bag life,welcome one and all.
- Jackie, England, 24/08/2009 17:33
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why do we hear about this news several days later each time?? What chance is there of getting vital evidence / witnesses etc when it is reported so far after the fact?
- Ds, Surrey, 24/08/2009 16:36
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How atrange. I thought it was only this government that could make that much money disappear that quickly.
- Minority Working Person, London/England, 24/08/2009 16:34
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