MADE off with nearly £2 million worth of jewellery after breaking into a Newham jewellers in the early hours of 10th July. Police believe that a gang of eight men were involved – and they are asking the public to help them find the thieves.
The burglars gained access to the shop – Joyalukkas in Green Street, E7 – by smashing a hole in the wall just big enough to crawl through. The hole was in the back wall of the shop, which is on an alleyway called Neville Road, E6. It is thought that once the burglars had gained access to the store, it took them over three hours to load up the jewellery. They left the shop via the same hole and it seems that they then climbed a wall in Neville Road to get into a builders’ yard, from where they made off in the direction of Plashet Road.
Shop staff realised there had been an overnight burglary when they arrived at work on 10th July. Goods taken include Asian style gold and diamond necklaces, bracelets, pendants and earrings. Police have now released CCTV footage of the men whom they believe acted as lookouts.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Pallett of Newham CID said, “This was a meticulously planned and audacious raid on a jewellery shop… While we think it only took the suspects around 20 mins to make the hole, it must have been noisy work and we would appeal for anyone who heard or saw anything suspicious to contact us.
“Likewise several men were hanging around the area for a number of hours before the raid. One wore a distinctive pink hoody – do you recognise anyone from the images we have released today? Or did you see them that day? The area was busy with shoppers and passers-by. If you have any information no matter how small, please come forward.”
The police would also like to hear from anyone who might have been offered items of jewellery for sale in the days or weeks following this incident.
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