Jewellery thieves thwarted by ‘have-a-go’ heroes

After riding down Banbury High Street on two mopeds, the gang of four smashed their way into the shop with sledgehammers, grabbing Rolex watches before fleeing after a security device discharged smoke into the shop.

The robbery was the fourth time in five years that the jewellers has been targeted by thieves.

In the ensuing escape attempt, one of the robbers was apprehended by a passer-by. One of the directors of Michael Jones Jewellery, Stuart O’Grady, said of the intervention: “It was great to see. The British public are getting sick and tired of this going on.

“These people are mindless – they rode down a pedestrianised area without any thought for the public.

“Two of them jumped off the mopeds with sledgehammers and broke through the front door of the shop, which is only unlocked for customers, and grabbed a number of watches, but we have a security device that prompted them to run from the shop.”

Mr O’Grady stated that one of the robbers had his helmet removed and another was seized by the intervening public. The gangs’ getaway riders were also targeted by the public and fled under a barrage of A-board signs.

“We come to work to do a job but unfortunately the business we are in is classed as high risk,” continued a frustrated Mr O’Grady.

“We’ve had a loss of between £100,000 and £300,000 on the three previous occasions,” he concluded.

One man has been charged with robbery in connection with the raid and three others have been arrested on suspicion of robbery. All four have been bailed until 21 October.