A GANG of smash-and-grab thieves stole items worth tens of thousands of pounds in a raid at Europe’s largest urban mall today.

A gang of up to 10 people burst into the Westfield centre in Shepherd’s Bush, west London, early this morning.

The thieves used sledgehammers to break into the complex before attacking branches of De Beers and Tiffany & Co.

Security guards and police were alerted by electronic alarms but the gang sped off in several cars at about 1.20am.

Officials at the 43-acre, �1.7 billion Westfield, which opened in October 2008 and houses more than 250 shops, said it was the first burglary of its kind to take place there.

No-one was hurt in the raid, which appears to be the latest in a series of similar crimes across the capital.

Gangs of thieves, often riding stolen mopeds and armed with heavy tools, have stolen goods worth more than �4 million from shops including Watches of Switzerland, Cartier, Dolce & Gabbana and Tiffany and Co.

Anyone with information should contact Hammersmith Police or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.