mid morning smash and grab yesterday.

[y2blade]

The walk on by raid: How a smash and grab motorbike gang can strike the Queen's silversmith in broad daylight - and no one turns a hair

It could have been a scene from a gangster movie, one shop worker said.

And passers-by who witnessed this robbery in London yesterday certainly treated it like one.
While self-preservation may have stopped them from intervening, they weren't too scared to stand there and enjoy the show.
One older gentleman was so unconcerned (or so oblivious) that he strolled right past the motorbike riding gang breaking into the branch of jewellers Mappin & Webb at 11.20am.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1256734/Sm...

Edited by y2blade on Wednesday 10th March 10:33

[hornetrider]

60 people watching taking photos?? WTF!

[Zod]

Daily Snail said:

There were claims that police officers took 25 minutes to arrive on the scene, giving the robbers plenty of time. Witness Petra Remias, 25, who works in a shop opposite said: 'The men started banging on the window with a huge hammer - it made a horrible noise.
'It was like a gangster movie. People in the street started gathering around in a semi-circle to watch.
'The raid lasted between five and ten minutes, it wasn't quick.'

vonhosen would have said:

We don't have all the facts here, so you can't judge the police on this story.

Edited by Zod on Wednesday 10th March 10:37

[s3fella]

I honestly think if I had been one of them cars on the road next to it, i'd have been up that pavement and knocked them bikers off! Just muller through them and keep driving before they got a shot off! !

Unbelievable to see people just watching!

[Mclovin]

dont worry they can catch them with all that expensive cctv they use to spy on the public lol....

[Nolar Dog]

I hope that's not my old GSXR

[Chris_w666]

There is no way I could have seen that from a car/van and not at least tried to knock one of the bikers off.

[twinturboz]

I seem to remember a similar robbery not so long ago, same gang? or maybe being on bikes is the new thing.

[adam85]

"There were claims that police officers took 25 minutes to arrive on the scene.."

Good lord

[Oakey]

Everyone claiming they'd have tried to drive up and knock them off, I'm assuming you'd plough through the crowds of onlookers first? Or the other vehicles? Or the railings?

Edited by Oakey on Wednesday 10th March 11:20

[sjg]

s3fella said:

I honestly think if I had been one of them cars on the road next to it, i'd have been up that pavement and knocked them bikers off! Just muller through them and keep driving before they got a shot off! !

Unbelievable to see people just watching!

Through the railings? And knocking over the old guy walking past?

But really, you're willing to substantially damage your own property and potentially risk your life over some jewellery in a shop window? If you were a passer-by on foot you'd weigh in against 5 blokes in armoured bike gear, one of which you know has a sledgehammer? This isn't a person in mortal danger, it's some criminals battering a window to get some stuff. I don't blame anyone nearby for staying well out of it.

[BOR]

I'd join in.

[Chris_w666]

BOR said:

I'd join in.

I certainly wouldn't wade in and try to stop 5 blokes that may be armed, my limit is 4. But I would (if the traffic allowed) try and clip the back of one of the bikes.

[Groober]

musclecarmad said:

I would have just watched.

I don't care if they steal from a jewellers.

why would i put myself in harms way for that - i'd prob get arrested for trying to help etc - it's not worth it.

i'm beginning to give less of a st about things the older I get. Each time I watch the news I begin to think 'I don't give a st about what is happening in Turkey etc'

if you don't watch the news you become a better person for it. I have just got back from a week in mexico and didn't watch or read the news once and it was nice not to hear stories deliberately made to wind you up.

Can't say I disagree with you there. Why would I risk my life to stop them taking jewelery from a shop window. If they had been mugging someone thats different.

[cocopop]

I'd be taking notes

[Justayellowbadge]

Probably ask how much they wanted for the white gold Daytona.

[Darth Paul]

twinturboz said:

or maybe being on bikes is the new thing.

Apparently so. Makes sense really, in traffic the only thing to keep with a bike is a) another bike (not that many bike cops around) or b) chopper, that if it isn't in air, they'll have changed vehicles long before it gets near.

[JB!]

twinturboz said:

I seem to remember a similar robbery not so long ago, same gang? or maybe being on bikes is the new thing.

[sherlock]

i think i could well be, same setup, 3 riders, 2 passengers.

the po-po are going to have a hard time tracing those bikes too.

[catso]

I should imagine the Authorities will clamp down on bikers more as a result, for their safety of course...

[Gargamel]

Police have been after this gang for a couple of years - the have used the same method on a number of mayfair/bond street shops.

Handbags, designer clothes, jewellers etc - straight forward smash and grab. Police policy is often NOT to pursue if they are on bikes.