Diamond raiders' daylight robbery

nlnews@archant.co.uk
29 July 2010

RAIDERS made off with a haul of diamonds after smashing their way into a jeweller's shop on a busy shopping parade in broad daylight.

Two hooded thugs used hammers to shatter the display window of Collins The Jewellers And Engravers, in Muswell Hill Broadway, and grabbed fistfuls of expensive earrings and diamond rings as the owner tried in vain to snatch them back from their grasp.

The brazen robbery on Monday took place on Monday at 2.30pm in front of a crowded bus stop and opposite a large budget superstore, usually thronging with shoppers.

The suspects are thought to have been captured on nearby CCTV cameras.

Shop owner and manager Michael Collins said: "We heard a banging noise and my assistant called out to me because I was round the back engraving. There they were, banging away with their hammers. It was quite surreal what happened. I pressed the panic button straightaway and while they were picking away at the window I went over and tried to get the goods back. They didn't care that I was there, just carried on.

"There was shattered glass everywhere and my finger did get cut from some flying glass. I thought, 'This is no good', and I just let them get on with it."

It is not yet known how much was taken in the three-minute "smash and grab" - but Mr Collins said handfuls of "high value" rings and earrings, most of which contained diamonds, were taken.

He added that the two men were wearing "heavy clothing" and had their faces covered, possibly with balaclavas.

Police were carrying out inquiries on the Broadway in the late afternoon, while the shop remained closed on Tuesday as they waited for a replacement window.

"I've had it done the same way several times," said Mr Collins. "It's very difficult because we want to show our products in the window, but this is what they do. They just don't care who sees them doing it. People looking around the shops - you can't expect them to do anything about it."

Haringey police's robbery squad is investigating the robbery and no arrests had been made as the Journal went to press.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Shaun Carre-Brown of Haringey CID on 020 8345 0870 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.