A gang of three men has been jailed after a shocking daylight smash and grab robbery on a jewellers in an affluent area of London.
Two masked men were caught on camera bashing in the window of Gregory & Co in leafy Richmond with a sledgehammer in January. They plundered £225,000 worth of diamond and gold jewellery from the window before running towards Richmond Green as terrified tourists and locals looked on.
The jewellers is just two doors down from the location of Richmond AFC's manager's flat, which was featured in a popular TV show. Locals have expressed concerns that the show has highlighted the wealthy neighbourhood, making it a target for thieves.
The trio was caught after officers looked at CCTV footage, carried out forensic analysis, and recovered a vehicle believed to be linked to the robbery.
Detective Superintendent Dan Mitchell said, "Robberies of this kind cause real concern for residents and businesses in the communities that are targeted. It's they who feel the immediate impact. These sentences mark a significant step in what has been a detailed and determined investigation."
A local resident, Amy Hilton, described the mayhem after the breakfast time raid on the jewellers. "I was in the cafe nearby. I heard a thumping and then looked over and two men were bashing in the window. It was very shocking there were people out and about and everyone was scared."
Other locals have echoed concerns that the TV show has made the area a target for thieves. Karen Lewis said, "The filming has brought unwanted attention to the area. There are more burglaries around the green with thieves knowing the houses are empty."
Tony Puci, who lives near the jewellers, said, "The Ted Lasso thing has definitely attracted more criminals. It's a magnet for thieves. Around a year ago, someone tried to burgle Ted Lasso's flat."
The three men, Deniz Mehmet, Robert Clarke, and Lee Ramsey, were jailed for a total of 17 years and three months for their roles in the robbery.
