Smash and grab raid on jeweller’s

8:20am Wednesday 7th May 2008

A MASKED raider on a bicycle smashed the window of a Swindon jewellers and left gems scattered across the street.

The thief, wearing a balaclava, rode up to the front of Deacon's jewellers in Wood Street at about 5am yesterday.

He smashed the glass and grabbed handfuls of jewellery before pedalling away.

Insp Pete Chamberlain, of Swindon police, said police were called to the scene of the smash and grab just before 6am.

"I can confirm a robbery took place in the early hours of this morning," he said.

"The premises were attacked and the window smashed.

"A member of the public alerted police after seeing jewellery on the pavement."

A member of staff from Deacon's, who did not want to be named, said: "It happened at about ten to five.

"They smashed the window, but nothing of too great a value was taken because we don't leave much there overnight.

"We're not quite sure exactly what was taken yet until we do a stock take.

"It was all caught on our CCTV, but the guy was wearing a balaclava so his face wasn't showing.

"He just rode up on his bike, smashed the window then cycled off."

A Wiltshire Police spokeswoman confirmed that the CCTV footage showed the male suspect leaving the scene in a dark balaclava and hoodie.

It is not the first time that Deacon's has been targeted by thieves.

Robbers dressed as decorators staged an armed theft in August 2006.

Staff were tied up by the gang, who escaped with tens of thousands of pounds worth of jewellery, including 14 Rolex watches.

In March 2004 brothers Wayne and David O'Brien stole more than £40,000 worth of Rolex watches from the shop in a smash-and-grab-raid, which took place in broad daylight.

They were captured on the Advertiser's CCTV security cameras as they made their getaway.

At the time, the shop's owner Richard Deacon said it was the first successful smash and grab in the shop's 156-year history.

As soon as the alarm was raised Swindon police used the force's helicopter to search for the suspects.

Four police cars were also mobilised and officers later trawled through the Swindon Advertiser's CCTV footage to see if the thieves had been caught in the act.

Anyone who witnessed the latest smash and grab is asked to contact police on 0845 408 7000 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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