Jewel thieves terrorise couple

Masked raiders broke into a wealthy couple's home and stole jewels worth £350,000, police said today.

The terrified couple were inside when three men stormed in and looted the gems along with £50,000 in cash.

They escaped with a blue sapphire ring, a blue topaz and diamond ring, a pair of diamond chandelier earrings, a diamond star pendant and several Cartier watches.

An expensive home near Harley Street in central London was the target of the raid.

The robbers were not armed but threatened the owners who are understood to be a privately wealthy couple and not celebrities.

There were no children in the house at the time of the robbery on the night of October 9.

Police will explore possible links with other raids at the homes of wealthy people in London.

Some insurers have noticed a growing trend for jewel thieves to strike while victims are in their homes so as to avoid increasingly sophisticated security systems which may only be turned on when the owners are out.