At 10pm on Saturday 14th August a group of what is believed to be four thieves stole jewellery from the De Beers and Omega stores at Royal Exchange with an estimated retail value of £380,000.

The thieves broke through a padlocked gate then smashed the shop windows with sledgehammers, before taking diamond jewellery and watches from the window displays. No other stores were targeted and the gang left in the same red BMW they arrived in. The thieves wore hooded tops and balaclavas.
The force is treating this incident very seriously. A team of dedicated detectives from the City of London Police is currently involved in the investigation and is liaising with other police forces.

One of the reasons this type of crime is rare in the City is the protection offered by the network of CCTV cameras that cover the City. These include private cameras in and around the Royal Exchange, which officers are now analysing as one line of enquiry.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the crime, and for any information on those responsible for it. The City is quieter at the weekend, but several bars and nightclubs were open on Saturday night.

Anyone who witnessed the burglary should call the City of London Police on 020 7601 2222, or speak to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.