Arrest Follows £40m Jewellery Robbery

Scotland Yard have arrested a 50-year-old man in connection with last Thursday's multi-million pound robbery at a Mayfair jewellers.

He was detained outside a house in Ilford, east London, on Monday, but details have only now been released.

A spokesman said detectives are examining several new lines of inquiry after CCTV images of two robbers were released yesterday.

However, the man, who has since been released on bail, is not thought to be either of the raiders caught on CCTV entering the Graff store in New Bond Street.

Earlier today, the Metropolitan police said they wanted "to speak" to the pair in connection with the huge armed robbery - the second such raid on the shop to have been undertaken.

They also released images of some of the rings, bracelets, necklaces and watches taken from Graff Jewellers, 7 New Bond Street, W1.

A total of 43 pieces were stolen, with a retail value of $65 million (estimated just under £40 million).

The two men walked into Graff Jewellers, at 4.40pm, last Thursday (6 August) after which both men threatened staff with handguns.

As they were leaving a shot was fired outside the premises. While no one was injured, the shooting was also filmed by a passer-by and aired on TV news last night.

The footage showed how, as they left, they brought a female member of staff outside the shop but left her there physically unharmed as they made their getaway in a blue BMW.

The BMW carried on into Old Bond Street, turned right into Stafford Street and then right into Dover Street.

A second shot was fired into the ground when they abandoned the BMW car in Dover Street W1.

It is believed they then switched into a silver Mercedes which turned left into Hay Hill and then entered Berkeley Square.

The car drove into Farm Street where it is believed some of the suspects got into a black vehicle, possibly a Ford Galaxy or VW Sharan.

Detectives from the Flying Squad at Barnes are appealing for witnesses and as well as having released CCTV images, have also given descriptions of two of the men they want to speak to in connection with this.

The first man is white, approximately 30 years old, with a slim build, dark hair with a well-combed side parting, light stubble on his face and is 5 ft 10 - 6 ft tall. He was wearing a grey suit, white shirt and tie.

The second is black, described as being in his 30s, 6 ft tall, more well built than the first suspect, with very short Afro hair. He was also wearing a grey suit, white shirt and tie.

It is believed both men spoke with London accents.

Det Chief Inspector Pam Mace from the Flying Squad said: "This was a well planned robbery with a number of vehicles used to help the robbers escape.

"These men are extremely dangerous and fired at least two shots in busy London streets as they made their getaway.

"Someone knows who these men are, they would undoubtedly have spoken about it beforehand or boasted about it afterwards. I would urge anyone who recognises them, knows the whereabouts of the jewellery or has any other information to contact us," he said.

Among the items stolen were a pair of white round diamond double-hoop earrings, a yellow diamond flower necklace, a platinum white Marquise diamond ring and a Chronograff men's watch.

The haul is thought to be the biggest ever netted in the UK, almost doubling the £23m worth of items stolen in a raid on the same shop in 2003.

In 2007, jewellery worth as much as £10m was taken from another branch of Graff Diamonds in Sloane Street in central London - again by two men posing as customers.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Barnes Flying Squad on 020 8247 4804, or to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.

(BMcC/KMcA)