THESE CCTV pictures show the moment armed robbers raided a jewellery store in Merseyside
CCTV images show terrifying armed raid at Wirral jewellers
THESE CCTV pictures show the moment armed robbers raided a jewellery store in Merseyside.
Up to £100,000 worth of diamond rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces were stolen in the attack on Hallmark jewellers, in Pensby Road, Heswall, at 4.55pm on Thursday. The sophisticated gang, who used a sledgehammer and drill to smash through the front window, wore white protective suits, balaclavas and gloves in the attack, leaving no forensic evidence.
Store owner Jan Foley, who pulled diamond jewellery from their clutches from the other side of the glass, today told the ECHO of the dread she felt when she watched the footage.
She said: “The police told me they believed the gang were armed – and not just with the sledgehammer and drill.
“Watching the CCTV back was so frightening. When they hit us, I ran straight to the window and started pulling the stock back and throwing it on the floor before they could get it.
“I managed to save some of the stock, but unfortunately they still got away with a lot.
“Looking back now, I probably should not have gone to the window, but at the time the adrenaline kicked in.”
Ms Foley said she even thought about running outside, but was glad she did not now.
She added: “The police put the robbery at category one and are looking at patterns of similar robberies in Merseyside.
“It was not the first time we have been targeted. We had two incidents this year.
“Every other time we were able to get the stock back – I have chased people around Heswall before now. But this is devastating.
“We are a family-run business, we started from nothing and built up over the years.
“The timing of the raid was awful, just before Christmas. A customer came into the shop today to buy a ring she had seen, but it was one of the ones which was stolen.
“We will not let the raid affect us and the shop has been really busy. The displays will be back in the window by Monday morning.
“We are working around the clock to clean the jewellery which was caught up in the raid because there are tiny pieces of glass everywhere.”
The stolen black car the gang used was found burned out in Cornelius Drive, Pensby, 15 minutes later.
The raiders even threw a stinger behind them to try and slow down anybody who may have followed.
Ms Foley added: “If anyone is offered diamond goods, they should contact us because I can identify every piece.”
Anyone with information should call 0151-777 2264 or Crimestoppers 0800 555 111
The lad with the sledge hammer is obviously a homo as thats not how you use one. I think anyone knows that you put one hand on the bottom and one on the top. These guys are amatures and will be caught soon. I put my bottom dollar on it!