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Target: Police at the scene of the Tuesday Dinny Hall raid |
Hammer raiders hit stars’ jewellers
Actors’ designer favourite at the centre of an all-action scene as motorbike gang strike
IT was a scene worthy of a big screen action movie.
Four thieves on motorbikes cruised down Upper Street in broad daylight, smashed their way into a slick designer jewellers with hammers and demolished glass display cabinets, grabbing the luxury stock.
And, just like in the movies, a passing plain-clothes cop yelled “stop police” and gave chase.
These were the terrifying scenes at celebrity jeweller Dinny Hall, whose customers include Bond star Daniel Craig, Kirsten Dunst, Elizabeth Hurley, Ralph Fiennes and Thandie Newton, just before lunchtime on Tuesday.
Dinny Hall’s work has appeared in such hit movies as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bridget Jones and Notes on a Scandal.
Shopkeepers watched in horror as the thieves grabbed the loot and threatened the policeman with a hammer when he tried to intervene.
They escaped on two motorbikes but one collided with a passing black Vauxhall Frontera, causing two suspects to fall off. One escaped and was picked up on the second bike in Florence Street but his accomplice was pinned on the ground by police and passers-by.
The remaining three suspects were last seen in Alwyne Villas on one bike.
A hammer was recovered at the scene of the collision.
Police say the four suspects smashed their way through the shop’s glass door, although staff from neighbouring shops say the jeweller’s door was unlocked.
An eyewitness, who was working in a neighbouring shop at the time, said: “They were threatening people with hammers, it was really scary. There was a guy in a suit who was a police officer. He shouted “stop, police” and chased them.
“One turned around and went to hit him with a hammer. Everyone rushed outside. One man was already on the bike. They were all wearing helmets.”
She said passers-by and the police rushed to catch the robber who had fallen off his bike, adding: “He got up and was fine and was yelling and cussing. Then all these big bulky blokes came and pinned him down. They’ve done a horrible job on the shop. I feel so sorry for the people that are in there. They don’t realise how scary it is. They will be scared of anyone in a motorcycle helmet.”
No one was hurt during the incident.
The Flying Squad based at Finchley police station are investigating the incident. Anyone with information is urged to call 020 8358 1751, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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