London's Dorchester hotel hit by smash-and-grab jewellery heist

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jun/10/dorchester-hotel-london-smash-grab-jewellery-heist

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Thieves wielding sledgehammers have staged a smash-and-grab robbery at one of the country's best-known five-star hotels.

A gang of six men pulled up on mopeds outside the Dorchester hotel in Mayfair in central London in the early hours of Tuesday and smashed display cabinets, stealing watches and jewellery.

After the heist, which police said was well planned, the thieves managed to shake off pursuing officers just over a mile away, on Shaftesbury Avenue.

One of the bikes hit a 25-year-old woman on Cambridge Circus as the gang fled, leaving her with leg injuries that required hospital treatment.

DC Alex Flanagan said: "We are in the early stages of our investigation and I would like to hear from anyone who was on Park Lane or nearby who may have seen the robbery or the men making their escape.

"Likewise, I am keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the accident that took place in Cambridge Circus.

"This was a well-planned and thought-through robbery and there may be people who know who is responsible, and I am keen for those with any information, no matter how small, to come forward and assist us with our investigation."

A number of similar robberies have taken place in London's west end, where thieves have arrived on bikes and tried to smash their way in to jewellery stores.