London shoppers horrified at moped gang terrifying samarai attack in broad daylight
A MOPED gang armed with a samurai sword and sledgehammers made off with valuable jewellery in a terrifying raid in broad daylight on an exclusive watch shop in central London.
Police were called to Watches of Switzerland in Regent Street just after 2pm yesterday.
A police spokesman said that six suspects on three mopeds had stopped outside the premises, using the sledgehammers to smash their way through the front door of the shop.
He added: “They then smashed their way through the glass display cabinets and stole a quantity of high value Rolex watches.
“The suspects left the scene prior to police arrival and made off on the mopeds toward Piccadilly Circus.
“No one was injured in the course of the robbery, but one person was treated for shock.”
The sledgehammers and knives including the sword were recovered from outside the store.
Passer-by James Whiting said the machete “looking like something from a medieval museum”.
No arrests have been made so far, and witnesses or anyone with any information are asked to call police on 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC quoting CAD 3838/18March.
Detectives are particularly keen to speak to anyone who with footage of the incident.
To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org
The incident is the latest in a trend of crimes involving mopeds in London.
Met Police crack down on moped crime
Recent figures suggest the vehicles were used in 23,000 crimes across the capital in 2017 – 8,000 up on the previous year.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick has highlighted the issue as a priority, saying: "I have been clear that tackling violence is my priority. I was angered by the apparent perception amongst some criminals that they could operate with near impunity, committing strings of offences using scooters.
"We have brought all our tactics and specialists together to use every ethical option to put a stop to the rise; arrest those responsible; disrupt offenders; dismantle the criminal markets that make these offences lucrative and change the public's behaviour to make them a part of our effort.”
In December police launched Operation Winter Nights, a crack-down on knife crime, scooter, moped and motorbike-enabled crime, corrosive substance-related offences and criminal activity.
BBC Three recently screened a documentary, Inside Britain's Moped Crime Gangs, looking at the issue.