Robber admits role in armed raid on jewellers

Jan 9 2009 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

AN armed robber who stormed a Tyneside jewellers in a brazen daylight attack will face sentencing at the end of the month.

Northumbria Police last night confirmed that Raido Raaga, 23, of no fixed abode, has admitted stealing a haul of Patek Philippe and Cartier watches worth more than £130,000.

The Estonian national was a member of a gang that stormed the Berry’s Jewellers, in Grey Street, Newcastle, on August 20 last year.

CCTV footage released by officers showed the group, one brandishing a gun, smash a display cabinet with a claw hammer to snatch the precious items.

As they fled the scene in different directions, they discarded their clothes.

One set of clothes, including a black jacket, was found with a cricket-style hat dumped in a bin outside a takeaway in Pilgrim Street.

Another set of clothes, a black jacket with a beige baseball cap and black gloves, was recovered in North Street. A claw hammer was left at the scene and underwent forensic examination.

Now Raaga is due for sentencing at Reading Crown Court in connection with the armed raid.

Officers confirmed he had already appeared before Reading Magistrates’ court on December 18 where he pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing an imitation fire arm.

A 35-year-old Estonian man was also arrested by police in connection with the raid, but later released on police bail.

The Northumbria Police spokesman said: “A man has been charged with robbery and possession of an imitation fire arm. He is called Raido Raaga and he is 23 and from Estonia.

“A 35-year-old man has been arrested in connection with this same incident, and is currently on police bail. He is also Estonian.”

Almost the entire £130,000 haul of designer watches were recovered after police in Kent performed the routine stop of a late-night coach in Dover.

A drawstring bag was discovered which contained 16 Patek Philippe watches and 12 Cartier watches.

The recovered property was checked with jewellery experts in Canterbury and were found to have serial numbers which matched those stolen in the hold-up at Berry’s shop at Grey’s Monument on August 20.

The pieces were then returned to their owners.

Immediately after the raid, Newcastle detectives began liaising with the Serious and Organised Crime Agency and Europol.

A man has been charged with robbery and possession of an imitation fire arm.