Boodles of Chelsea raided by moped gang wielding hammers
A manhunt is under way after a gang of robbers smashed their way through an exclusive Chelsea jewellery shop, making off on three mopeds.
The luxury jewellers - which is located close to Harrods just off Sloane Street in west London - stocks high-end gems worth tens of thousands of pounds.
Video footage shot around 10.40am shows the gang outside Boodles on Basil Street in Knightsbridge, with smoke pouring from the front door as the helmet wearing suspects make their exit.
Three men can be seen manoeuvring three mopeds as they wait outside the shop, before three more suspects run outside onto the pavement.
The last suspect to leave the shop is carrying a large sledge hammer - which he casually rests on one shoulder as he gets onto the bike - and what appears to be a bag full of loot.
The six suspects - who are all dressed in black - then jump onto the mopeds - two on each bike - honking their horns as they make their getaway.
A police spokesman said: "A number of suspects had arrived on motor scooters, entered the store and then used hammers to smash their way through counter displays.
"The robbers removed property from the displays and then made off on the bikes."
A spokeswoman for Boodles confirmed that no one was hurt, and that police were now investigating.
A security device was also activated inside the shop during the raid - which appears to have created the plumes of smoke which can be seen in the footage.
The value of jewellery stolen has not been revealed, and no arrests have been made.
The family-run British jewellers has been running for over 200 years, and in 2014 appeared in a Channel 4 documentary showcasing their most expensive collection of jewellery at the time - an emerald necklace worth £1m.
Moped-enabled crime has reached almost epidemic proportions in the capital over the last year, with police logging more than 16,000 moped-related crimes in the past 12 months - a threefold increase on the previous year.
