ROBBERS armed with a pickaxe and hammer who went into a prestigious jewellers and trashed the displays are being hunted by police.
Laurence Cawley
ROBBERS armed with a pickaxe and hammer who went into a prestigious jewellers and trashed the displays are being hunted by police.
Part of bustling Abbeygate Street in Bury St Edmunds was cordoned off following the raid which happened on market day at Thurlow Champness at 10.40am today.
Police sent out the force helicopter in a bid to catch the robbers who fled in a grey VW Golf car along Hatter Street.
A police spokeswoman told how thee men of Asian appearance went into the jewellery shop and started smashing the glasses displays at the shop, which sells luxury jewellery items from makers including Ebal, Faberge and Cartier.
Staff, although badly shaken, were not injured during their ordeal.
A spokesman for Thurlow and Champness declined to comment on the incident other than to say: “It wasn't very nice.”
Police confirmed a pickaxe and a hammer were later recovered nearby.
It is understood the robbers used two cars in the incident - one to block off Abbeygate Street and one as a getaway vehicle.
A spokeswoman for the police said a grey VW Golf was later found in Whiting Street and a BMW car in Abbeygate Street, next to the jewellery shop.
“Officers want to hear from anyone who may have seen either of these vehicles in or around Bury St Edmunds this morning, or may have seen the offenders in the area of Whiting Street shortly after the robbery took place.”
A spokesman for Thurlow and Champness declined to comment on the incident other than to say: “It wasn't very nice.”
The incident comes seven months a thief armed with a baton-style weapon made off with �22,000 of jewellery and assaulted two workers.
On that occasion the robber, who peddled off on a mountain bike, struck at 4.30pm on a Saturday afternoon. He had asked to look at three Rolex watches before a struggle ensued and the workers were assaulted.
And in 2007 two men were sentenced for an attempted burglary at the family-owned jewellery shop.
Anyone with any information about the most recent incident should contact Bury CID on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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