Sledgehammer-wielding robbers hit second Kingston jewellers (From Surrey Comet)

Sledgehammer-wielding robbers hit second Kingston jewellers

7:40am Saturday 19th December 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

Sledgehammer-wielding robbers targeted a lone woman in her New Malden jewellery shop on Thursday, a day after a Surbiton jewellers was hit.

Detective Sergeant Tony Skinner said police were sure the two crimes, both committed in broad daylight, were linked and police have issued an appeal for witnesses.

FP Turner and Sons, in Victoria Road, was targeted on Wednesday, December 16, at 11.05am and robbers smashed the glass display before getting away with a modest haul of what police believed to be rings.

Detective Sergeant Skinner said: “They were then chased by the shop keeper and were seen to make their escape in a black BMW, no registration number known, and driven off at speed towards Brighton Road, Surbiton.”

Ratnam Jewellers, in Burlington Road, was then hit at 4.18pm on Thursday and a large amount of jewellery was stolen before the men made their get away in a red hatchback parked in Queens Road.

Owner Ratnam Sanmugananthan, 62, was in his office at the rear of the shop when he saw the men enter.

He rushed to the front because he sensed something was about to happen and was overpowered by the two men, who used a sledgehammer to smash a display cabinet from the inside.

He said a third man was stood by the door.

He said: “I wasn’t really frightened, I was just angry to see what they were doing. They pushed me down but I didn’t feel anything. I am hurting now, I have bruises.

“I know these things happen but the way they came with their sledgehammer, these guys are going to attack someone one day, there’s going to be another target somewhere.

"e were so lucky we didn’t have any serious injuries but they need to be stopped at least for the sake of others.”

The thieves got away with £6,000 to £7,000 worth of stock, a huge amount so close to Christmas.

Mr Sanmugananthan said the robbery was particularly painful because his shop had only sold £120 worth of jewellery in the past two weeks.

Mrs Sanmugananthan, 59, said: “I couldn’t sleep last night but we have to work. What can we do?”

Police described the first man as white and about 5ft 11in. A second man was described as of “Asian appearance”, about 5ft 4in and both were in dark clothing.

DS Skinner asked the public not to approach the men and asked for witnesses to call him on 020 8247 4946.

• Do you know more? Let us know by email here, phone the newsdesk on 020 8330 9555 or leave a comment below.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)