This is the dramatic moment a gang of moped thugs armed with a sledgehammer targeted a luxury jewellers in Knightsbridge.
The dramatic footage shows the armed gang leaping onto three mopeds following the raid at Boodles jewellers in Basil Street this morning.
Smoke from a security alarm poured out into the street as the suspects, said to be armed with a machete as well as the sledgehammer, sped away from the scene shortly after 10.30am.
Scotland Yard said they smashed their way through the counter displays and made off with a quantity of jewellery.
The robbers - six in total on three scooters - carried out the raid and were in and out in under a minute.
One witness, 21, who filmed the footage from the window of an office opposite the store, said the gang appeared to be armed with a machete and a sledgehammer.
He told the Standard that brave passers-by attempted to intervene to stop the robbery.
He said: “I was working in the office two floors above ground opposite the shop Boodles when I heard screams and shouting.
“Members of the public tried to help but they had a machete.
“There were six of them on three scooters who came and smashed the shop up. I quickly got my phone and recorded it.”
Another witness said: "There were six of them on two scooters. They were carrying black clubs or sticks and one had a sledgehammer.
"One scooter mounted the pavement they were waving sticks and shouting at people. It was terrifying. There is so much security around here they were taking a big risk."
A local shop manager said: "The road where the jewellers is has only just reopened after works. They must have been casing the area this was well planned."
The main entrance to the jewellers is on Sloane Street but the thieves broke through the window on Basil Street.
The shop sells luxury watches by the likes of Patek Phillipe and high-end jewellery.
A Boodles staff member said that although in shock no workers in the jewellers had been injured in the raid.
He said: "Everybody is ok no one has been injured. it's a shock though. They didn't get away with that much."
A Boodles spokesperson said: "I can confirm that there was unfortunately a robbery at Boodles Knightsbridge showroom this morning. I can also confirm that nobody has been hurt. The police are handling the situation and Boodles is unable to comment any further."
Police said there were no reports of any injuries and that no arrests had been made.
A Met Police spokesman said: “Police are investigating after the robbery of a jewellers in Chelsea.
Boodles Jewellery Store Robbery in Basil Street
“Police were called at 10.37am on Wednesday, August 16 to reports of a robbery at a jewellers at Basil Street at junction with Sloane Street, SW1.
“A number of suspects had arrived on motorscooters, entered the store and then used hammers to smash their way through counter displays.
“The robbers removed property from the displays and then made off on the bikes.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
