Thugs armed with axe and knife target high-end jewellers on Fenchurch Street in attempted smash-and-grab

This is the dramatic moment a gang of moped thugs armed with weapons targeted a luxury jewellers in central London.

The footage shows four suspects wielding an axe, a hammer and a knife outside Mappin & Webb on Fenchurch Street on Tuesday morning.

The video was filmed from the inside of a lorry that was being driven past the scene shortly after 10am.

Shocked bystanders looked on as one of the suspects, dressed in an orange jacket and a black helmet, repeatedly struck the store window with a large axe.

In the footage, the gang can be seen leaving the scene on two mopeds after failing to smash their way inside the luxury jewellers.

One witness told the Standard they had seen an axe-wielding man trying to smash the windows to the shop, while three other suspects who were also carrying weapons kept a lookout.

She said the glass window, which was in front of a display of Rolex watches, was damaged but had not shattered and that the gang had left empty handed before police arrived.

An area outside the shop was cordoned off into the afternoon. The store sells luxury watches by the likes of Rolex, and Jaeger-LeCoultre and diamond jewellery.

City of London Police told the Standard officers were investigating the incident and appealing for information.

A spokesman for the force said: “We were called at 10.07am on Tuesday, September 19, to a report of an attempted burglary from a shop in Fenchurch Street.

“The attempt was unsuccessful and no items were stolen, and no one was injured.

“Officers from the City of London Police will now carry out a full investigation into the incident, which involved four people riding motorbikes and wearing helmets attempting to break the shop window.”

No arrests have been made.

Officers are asking anyone with any information to contact the City of London Police on 020 7601 2999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.