Terrified mother and baby cower in vault as axe gang raids north-west London jeweller's

Two minute raid terror as gang armed with axes steals jewels from Kilburn shop
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

A terrified mother and baby were rushed to safety in a jeweller's vault as an axe-wielding moped gang looted thousands of pounds in gold and gems.

Seven armed robbers on three mopeds and a car smashed their way into the Emirates jewellery store in Kilburn High Road, Kilburn, with a battering ram just after noon yesterday.

Owner Talib Amin helped four customers, including a mother holding her one-year-old daughter, take refuge inside a office at the back of his family-run shop.

Meanwhile, his assistant was beaten to the ground as he attempted to barricade the front door.

The raid, which lasted just under two minutes, was captured on shocking CCTV.

The footage shows three of the robbers, dressed in black and wearing motorcycle helmets, rifling through display cabinets and filling bags with a £20,000 haul of jewellery and watches.

As the assistant, Mr Hamid, attempted to stop one robber from escaping he was kicked and punched to the ground before being threatened with an axe.

The gang made off on two of the mopeds but were forced to abandon some of the jewellery after one of the motorbikes smashed into a lorry.

A family friend of the owners said the Mr Amin opened the jewellery store three months ago.

She said: “It was terrifying for everyone who was involved. Talib was just thinking of protecting his customers so got them inside the office. There was a mother and baby in there when it happened. It’s shocking.

Raid: The masked thieves made off with thousands worth of jewellery
Emirates

“His assistant was so brave, trying to stop the robbers. He did everything he could but it was so dangerous. We are just grateful he was not killed. It has shaken everyone up quite badly.”

Police are understood to be looking at links between this robbery and one carried out on another Iraqi-run jewellers by a moped gang four miles away in Kingsbury on Monday.

The owners of both shops knew each other.

The friend said: “You have to think they are being deliberately targeted. It’s worrying.”

Mr Hamid was taken to hospital by ambulance and discharged last night after being treated for minor injuries. Mr Amin was also treated in hospital for raised blood pressure following the attack.

His son, Ali, 17, said: “I got a phone call from my mum whilst revising for my law exams, her telling me 'Ali, we have been robbed'.

"What a terrific situation to be put in. I didn’t know whether to run and make it there on time or use my initiative and say it’s too late but let me go and see if my family are ok.”

Smash and grab: Masked robbers used axes to break into cabinets
Emirates

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Police were called at 12.05pm on Thursday to a robbery at a jewellers in Kilburn High Road.

“Seven suspects arrived at the location on three motorcycles and in a car. They were armed with axes.

“They robbed the jewellers and made off on two of the motorcycles and in the car.

“The third motorcycle was left at the scene following a collision with a lorry. This motorcycle was recovered together with a quantity of the stolen property.”

The Met Police’s Flying Squad are investigating. Anyone with information can contact police on 101.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in