Three brazen crooks ram-raided a jewellery shop with a Mercedes before making off with £10,000 worth of loot.
A gang of thieves rammed a silver Mercedes SL-Class R230 into the front of a jewellery shop four times during a dramatic early-morning raid.
Two accomplices stood in the road attempting to smash through the metal shutters as the driver repeatedly reversed the car into the storefront.
The group continued undeterred even as a black van passed along the street at around 4.40am.
After about 20 seconds, the suspects breached the shop’s security barriers and shattered the glass entrance before grabbing jewellery from Kalidas Jewellers.
The trio then fled the scene in the stolen Mercedes — a car capable of speeds of up to 155mph and worth around £25,000.
Police are now hunting the suspects following the burglary at the store in George Lane, South Woodford, east London.
The raid was captured on CCTV footage from the nearby Martin Oliva jewellery shop opposite.
The suspects breached the shop’s security barriers and shattered the glass entrance before grabbing jewellery from Kalidas Jewellers
A source said: 'Approximately £10,000 worth of jewellery was reported as stolen'
A Martin Oliva spokesperson said: 'Unfortunately, our neighbouring jeweller was broken into.
'Incidents like this appear to be becoming increasingly common among jewellers across the UK.
'We remain hopeful that the police will be able to provide greater support and preventative measures moving forward. Fortunately, no one was harmed.'
The incident happened on April 28.
A source said: 'Approximately £10,000 worth of jewellery was reported as stolen.'
A person believed to be the owner of Kalidas told the DM: 'I am still assessing the value of the damage, so the value of items taken could exceed £10,000.'
He added that the police had been to visit, but he has no faith in them.
The raid is the latest in a growing wave of smash-and-grab attacks targeting luxury retailers and jewellers across London.
In recent months, organised gangs have carried out a string of brazen robberies at high-end stores including Rolex, Yves Saint Laurent and several independent jewellers, often using sledgehammers, stolen vehicles and motorbikes to smash their way inside before fleeing with luxury goods.
The gang of thieves rammed a silver Mercedes SL-Class R230 into the front of the jewellery shop four times
The raid was captured on CCTV footage from the nearby Martin Oliva jewellery shop opposite
In January this year, Sultan Jewellery in Uxbridge Road, Shepherds Bush, was targeted by several men who smashed the shop's windows with sledgehammers
CCTV footage from a number of incidents has captured thieves ramming SUVs through storefronts, shattering display windows and clearing shelves of expensive watches, handbags and jewellery within minutes.
Earlier this year, hammer-wielding raiders targeted family-run jeweller Gregory & Co in Richmond, west London, while another gang smashed into Sultan Jewellery in Shepherd’s Bush before escaping with high-value items.
Luxury fashion house Yves Saint Laurent’s Bond Street store was also hit after masked thieves drove a vehicle through the shopfront and stole designer handbags worth tens of thousands of pounds.
Meanwhile, the Bucherer Rolex Boutique at One Hyde Park in Knightsbridge was targeted by a gang on motorbikes who stormed the store and fled with luxury watches in a raid lasting just minutes.
The incidents have fuelled growing concern among shop owners and residents, with many warning that violent smash-and-grab robberies are becoming increasingly common across the capital.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'We recognise the significant impact incidents of this nature have on businesses and the communities around them.
'We are committed to responding robustly to this type of crime and are working at pace to apprehend those responsible for this crime.
'While no arrests have been made at this stage, detectives have conducted initial enquiries.
'This includes visiting the scene to speak to the victim and gathering relevant forensic evidence and CCTV footage.
'Anyone with information is asked to contact the Met via 101, quoting 01/7492780/26.'