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Arrests made in Westfield gem raid

Police have arrested three males in connection with the recent smash-and-grab robbery at Westfield.

Three males aged 15, 17 and 18 have been arrested at an address in Camden on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary following a raid on jewellers in London's landmark Westfield shopping mall.

Hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of jewels were taken in a smash-and-grab raid on De Beers and Tiffany & Co in the early hours of Wednesday morning. According to police, a gang of ten robbers wearing balaclavas used sledgehammers to break a fire door at the shopping mall in order to snatch expensive jewellery. The gang then escaped in three getaway cars after triggering a security alarm.

The attack is the latest in a series of raids at luxury jewellery and designer goods stores in London over the last couple of years by smash-and-grab thieves. The same gang - who usually operate on scooters - are believed to have robbed Mulberry, Jimmy Choo, Chanel, Gucci, Watches of Switzerland, Cartier, Dolce & Gabbana and Anya Hindmarch boutiques in the past. It is unclear whether this is a related incident.

It is, however, the first time that Westfield, which opened in West London in October 2008 and cost a whopping £1.7bn to build, has been hit by such a burglary.

A spokesperson for the shopping mall said in a statement immediately following the incident: "Westfield is working closely with the Metropolitan Police to identify suspects and recover property. No-one was injured during the incident, which took place whilst the shopping centre was closed and our on-site security staff responded immediately as did the local police."

The De Beers and Tiffany & Co stores at Westfield were closed for business following the raid to allow police to search for evidence.

Picture: The Westfield shopping centre in London.