Authorities are on the trail of a moped gang linked to a significant theft at a jewelry store in west London, which had faced a similar incident over six years ago.

In the early hours of Thursday morning, Sultan Jewellers on Uxbridge Road in Shepherds Bush became the target of an attack. Several individuals used a sledgehammer to break the shop’s windows around 3:30 am, making off with valuable jewelry.

Police responded swiftly, arriving at the scene within three minutes, where they were confronted by the thieves who brandished a hammer while attempting to escape on mopeds.

Officers managed to apprehend a 33-year-old man at the location, who is now in custody on suspicion of aggravated burglary. However, several other suspects managed to evade capture.

More than 12 hours following the raid, a police cordon remained in place as evidence of the crime, including shattered glass and scattered jewelry, was still visible on the ground outside.

Jack Stones, who owns the nearby Defectors Weld pub, reported seeing fresh blood on the pavement outside the jeweler’s as he passed by at 7 am, indicating the aftermath of the raid hours earlier.

One resident said the attack was eerily similar to another heist which saw three robbers armed with a sledgehammer smash into the shop with a Range Rover in October 2019.  

Mr Khan, who only gave his surname, said: ‘It’s Shepherds Bush, there’s always young people causing trouble, kicking the doors of shops down and drinking. Crime around here has got so bad lately.’

Sultan Jewellers in Uxbridge Road, Shepherds Bush, was targeted by several men who smashed the shop’s windows with sledgehammers

A police cordon was in place more than 12 hours after the theft while shards of broken glass and jewellery remained strewn on the floor

Police officers were at the scene within three minutes and were threatened with a hammer as the thieves tried to speed away on mopeds

Detective Superintendent Alex Bingley, from the Met’s Central West command unit, said: ‘Quick work by our officers meant we were on the scene within minutes and able to interrupt the thieves.

‘I’d like to thank the response officers first on the scene, who were threatened with a weapon.

‘We know that incidents like this cause significant concern for businesses and residents, but we would like to reassure the public that we are working at pace to identify all those involved in this burglary.

‘We’d appeal to anyone with information about the burglary or who has CCTV or dash cam video to get in touch with the police.’

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or online, quoting reference 732/29JAN26. Information can be reported anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.   

The previous robbery saw a black Range Rover crash through the window of the e-Smart Money foreign exchange, which was linked internally to the jewellers, before a thief in a motorcycle helmet rushed out with a sledgehammer.

Bystanders were forced to take justice into their own hands and restrained one of the three robbers, Ben Wegener, as they attempted to flee on foot towards Westfield shopping centre.

Pedestrians rushed to the thief, who had dropped a bag on the ground when he fell, and attempted to restrain him, pummeling him on the street while other onlookers filmed the scenes.

One resident said the attack was eerily similar to another heist which saw three robbers armed with a sledgehammer smash into the shop with a Range Rover in October 2019 

A small group then pushed the apparent thief back to the ground when he tried to rise to his feet.

Wegener, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after he and two accomplices robbed the store, narrowly missing people inside.

The other two robbers escaped but Wegener pleaded guilty to robbery, dangerous driving, possession of an offensive weapon, criminal damage and receiving stolen goods.

Police later recovered the Range Rover, which was stolen and was displaying false number plates.