Fires lit to distract from £1m jewellery theft

Police are hunting thieves who stole £1m from a jewellers in Milton Keynes. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Police in Milton Keynes are hunting thieves who made off with £1 million of jewellery after setting fires and road blocks as a distraction.

Thames Valley Police says the burglary at a jewellers in Eagle Walk, Central Milton Keynes took place around 3am on Thursday morning. An estimated £1 million worth of jewellery was taken from Leslie Davis Jewellers.

Smashed windows at the Leslie Davis jewellers in Milton Keynes. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Click below to watch a report by ITV News Anglia's Russell Hookey

Thames Valley Police say they are currently undertaking extensive forensic work around the location of the burglary. They're warning there will be disruption to traffic, particularly across the overbridge to thecentre:MK.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police on 101 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Crime scene officers working at the Leslie Davis jewellery shop in Milton Keynes. Credit: ITV News Anglia
A police officer stands guard outside the Centre: MK following the raid on the jewellery shop. Credit: ITV News Anglia

The same shop was robbed in December 2009 when shots were fired and CS gas used.

Click below to watch a report from Anglia Tonight in 2009 about that first raid.

A similar raid was carried out in August this year when thieves broke into Watford shopping centre in the early hours and stole jewellery and watches from several shops.

Just moments before, police were called to Gladstone Road three cars were alight. Offenders forced their way into the shopping centre via shoe shop Gordon Scott. Once inside the building, they then forced their way into the shop windows of Beaverbrooks, Ernest Jones and Swag and stole jewellery and watches