Armed gang link to other violent raids

Aug 28 2008 by Paul James, The Journal

EASTERN European raiders who held up a Newcastle jewellers at gunpoint are being linked with a string of violent robberies across Europe.

Police last night revealed they were in touch with the Serious Organised Crime Agency and Europol over the robbery at Berrys in the city centre last Wednesday.

The link follows a number of arrests in connection with armed robberies across the region in recent weeks, over which three people are facing charges. Suspects have also appeared in court in connection with three of a recent spate of hold-ups at bookmakers.

Meanwhile, the gang responsible for the Berrys robbery are believed to be of Eastern European origin and responsible for a series of similar violent thefts across Europe over the past few months.

In-store cameras caught the gang as they raided the upmarket jewellers, in Grey Street just after 10am.

Three men, one brandishing a gun, used a claw hammer to smash display cabinets inside the shop before fleeing with an estimated £130,000 worth of exclusive watches, including Cartier and Patek Philippe.

A police spokeswoman said: “Newcastle Area Command CID are following up a number of lines of inquiry relating to a robbery at Berrys Jewellers, Grey Street, Newcastle, on August 20.

“Officers are liaising with the Serious and Organised Crime Agency and Europol. The offenders are believed to be Eastern European and responsible for a series of similar raids throughout Europe in recent months.

“This is the first offence to have occurred within the Northumbria Police area which has been linked to this series. Officers have visited premises in Newcastle to provide reassurance, crime prevention advice and guidance.”

Following the raid, one of the gang fled down Grey Street and two went towards Blackett Street and then Northumberland Street and Pilgrim Street.

The claw hammer was left at the scene and is being forensically examined.

Police believe the hammer, and possibly the imitation gun, may have been bought locally. The gun may have been dumped somewhere in the city. One set of clothes, including a black jacket with a white stripe on the sleeves, was found with a cricket-style hat dumped in a wheelie bin outside a takeaway in Pilgrim Street.

A second set of clothes – a black jacket with a beige baseball cap and black gloves – has also been recovered in North Street, North Shields.

Anyone with information on the robbery can call police on (0345) 604-3043 or Crimestoppers confidentially on (0800) 555 111.

Page 2: No hiding place, robbers are warned