Chilling moment burglars take £500k of gold jewellery from home in sacks despite owners being inside during brazen raid

The Irish Sun

07-08-2025

THIS is the hair-raising moment burglars steal a £500,000 jewellery hoard while the owners remain unaware inside.
The brazen thieves targeted a Bromley home, in London, at around 5.40pm on December 30 last year.
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The thieves threw down large sacks filled with gold jewellery to an accomplice below
Credit: MET POLICE
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CCTV captured the thugs walking across the roof
Credit: MET POLICE
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The owners were inside the property throughout the raid
Credit: MET POLICE
CCTV revealed the trio broke into the property, on Bickley Road, through a bathroom window.
Within 45 minutes the thugs had stolen a £500k haul and made off with their bounty in large bags.
More footage showed the yobs walking across the roof, carrying the sacks, and throwing them to someone waiting below.
The owners, who were inside the property throughout the raid, were unaware they'd been hit by criminals.
The Metropolitan Police have released pictures of the stolen items and urged anyone who recognises them to come forward.
Detective Constable Jamie White, of the Met's South Area Command Unit, said: 'While the monetary value of this theft is enormous, the sentimental value is priceless – with many of the pieces being passed down through generations of the family.
'Helpfully, a number of the pieces stolen are unique, so we are hoping that releasing these photographs will jog someone's memory. If you have seen these items anywhere – or know of anyone handling the goods – please do get in touch with the Met via 101, quoting 01/1257889/24.
"If you have information and wish to stay anonymous, you can speak to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
"No arrests have been made at this stage."
This comes after thieves stole a couple's prized £30k Ford Mustang in just 90 seconds using sophisticated 'relay system' kit.
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Video footage shows the gang approach the car around 2am and use a handheld device to open the driver's door.
Another member wearing a face mask then holds up a loop of wire near the house which boosts the signal of the keyless fob inside and tricks the car into thinking the driver is at the controls.
Elsewhere, thugs were caught on camera nicking a hot tub from a family's garden on the eve of the hottest day of the year.
CCTV filmed the two raiders draining water from the six-man Lay-Z-Spa at 2.45am.
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A golden tiara encrusted with a ruby jewel was taken in the raid
Credit: Metropolitan Police
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Large jewellery sets were robbed from the family
Credit: Metropolitan Police
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Cops have urged the public to keep an eye out for these items
Credit: Metropolitan Police
They left, only to return 30 minutes later to roll the empty tub off the patio and across the garden before pushing it over a 6ft fence.
Meanwhile, cops are still on the hunt for one of the most prolific burglars in the UK - the Night Watcher.
The prolific thief is wanted for a series of similar raids dating back to 2006 across Surrey, Sussex, Kent, London and Berkshire.
Officers have previously speculated the Night Watcher, who works alone, may be a former soldier using his military training to carry out the raids and avoid detection.
Detectives think he stakes out the homes for days and sometimes breaks in before the robbery to check out the layout and discover where safes are.
The planning, ruthless efficiency and the fact he uses cable ties on his victims all point to a military background, police say.
His victims include former tennis champion Boris Becker and French ex-footballer Nicolas Anelka.
He has taken valuable jewellery - including a ring that once belonged to Charles II.
Other wealthy targets have included the Duke and Duchess of Richmond, who were attacked in their stately home, Goodwood House, West Sussex, in 2016.
A £10,000 Crimestoppers reward has been offered for information that leads to the conviction of the suspect in the Sevenoaks robbery.
In March this year police released a recording of what is believed to be the Night Watcher's voice.
It was captured when he tied up and beat an elderly pensioner in a £1.8million raid in June last year, it's alleged.
Cops are still urgently hunting the violent thug who attacked a 63-year-old on her doorstep in Sevenoaks, Kent.
The suspect struck the lone victim with a gun before tying her up like something out of a "horror movie".
The fiend fled with 50 pieces of jewellery, including ­diamond-encrusted earrings, a sapphire pendant and watches.
In the hair-raising audio, the violent raider can be heard saying: 'The key…to the garage.
"Open it! Open the garage. Open the garage. Open it!'
His voice becomes more stressed as he makes the demands before leading her into the house to access more safes.
Linguistic experts have said the suspect's accent is of someone from the 'prosperous southern counties'.
He then hit her with the gun, splitting her forehead open, before binding her hands and feet with electrical cables.
The traumatised victim was found by her husband about an hour after the "mindless and violent" attack.
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More goldware stolen from the Bromley home
Credit: Metropolitan Police