Armed robbery Piccadilly/Old Bond Street

[Crankarm]

Any cyclists in the area to witness this daylight armed robbery on the jewelers Mappin & Webb? Apparently the police thought better of putting in an appearance. Lovely CCTV footage though.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/stand...in-central-london-daylight-jewellery-heist.do

 

[hackbike 666]

That's not the first time by this gang though is it?

 

[Crankarm]

That's not the first time by this gang though is it?

Don't know hackbike, do they have form?

I was looking at it thinking there must be a cyclist around with a heavy D-lock ............. to lock aorund the rear wheel of one of the motorbikes.

 

[Jezston]

I was reading about this in the paper this morning. Despite the robbery taking over five minutes, a large crowd formed around them, and did nothing. Cars passed the incident which could have blocked their escape, and did nothing. Police didn't respond to an armed robbery for HALF AN HOUR. I wonder if anyone even called them?

Shocking.

 

[Twenty Inch]

If I were in the crowd, I'd have done nothing as well. Some gurt big bloke had a sledgehammer - do you think he'd have said "Oh alright, fair cop".

If they were beating someone up, I'd have got involved, but not to protect obscene jewellery for sale to the filthy rich.

Police lack of response is more difficult to understand.

 

[Alan Whicker]

Stepping in to save a life is one thing, stepping in to save a bag of garish M&W bling is another. And I sort of get the impression that these robbers aren't the sort to forgive and forget once they get out of chokey.

 

[thomas]

I was reading about this in the paper this morning. Despite the robbery taking over five minutes, a large crowd formed around them, and did nothing. Cars passed the incident which could have blocked their escape, and did nothing. Police didn't respond to an armed robbery for HALF AN HOUR. I wonder if anyone even called them?

Shocking.

You'd risk you life for some insured jewellery? Bugger off, the crowd did the right thing.

Police should of been a bit more prompt though.

Anyone catch it on a helmet camera?

 

[Arch]

Nice comment:

"They are not a "Motorcycle Gang",they are simply thiefs who chose to use bikes as they are easier to get through traffic on,especially in London.Stop trying to make out that all bikers are part of "gangs" and are anti social.Typical journalism by someone who probably doesnt know the first thing about bikes or the people who ride them.

- Paul Mac, Edinburgh,Scotland"

Just like when muggers on bikes are described as 'cyclists'...

 

[gaz]

That's not the first time by this gang though is it?

Oh deffinatly not.

It's well known that they have a VERY good system, 3 + bikes, all carrying passengers, the riders stay on the bikes and rev their engines, no one is brave enough to go close as they are all loud and powerful bikes. In and out in mins and the police have no chance of getting to the location or chasing them in busy london.

 

[Jezston]

You'd risk you life for some insured jewellery? Bugger off, the crowd did the right thing.

Fair enough, but one report I read said there were 30+ people standing around them gawping. I would have thought that if a few of them had stepped forwards and challenged the thieves they would have cut their losses and buggered off.

Easier said than done, of course.

 

[Crankarm]

What amazes me is that these high value jewelery stores have little or no proactive security people to take robbers out. Is it only the police or military who can be armed in the UK?

 

[gaz]

What amazes me is that these high value jewelery stores have little or no proactive security people to take robbers out. Is it only the police or military who can be armed in the UK?

You can only really have a license for a gun if your shooting for game or shooting clay pigeons. And it's rather expensive for the license and the gun.

 

[Twenty Inch]

What amazes me is that these high value jewelery stores have little or no proactive security people to take robbers out. Is it only the police or military who can be armed in the UK?

One of the very basic parameters of the modern state is that the state keeps a monopoly on violence. Which is to say "Yes, it is only police and military who can be armed in the UK"

 

[semislickstick]

There have been motorcycle robbers before in London, easy escape and generally isn't it known that Police don't like to chase motorcycles at speed as it's generally hopeless and a high risk of someone getting hurt.

I think you'd have to be brave to get involved, though I wonder if several super-hero lycra lout cyclists had got their D-locks out and clamped them before making a swift exit, could be possible!! ?