Attempted smash-and-grab at city centre jewellers

[dutchman]

The raiders were dressed all in black



Two people on a blacked-out motorbike roared in to Coventry city centre and tried to smash their way in to a jewellers.

The attempted smash-and-grab happened at Olivers Jewellers, in Shelton Square, at around 4pm on Thursday afternoon.

The would-be thieves, who were dressed all in black and riding a motorbike which had no registration plates, fled the scene empty-handed after failing to get through the shop window.

The owner of the shop has also said a "substantial" reward is being put up for information that leads to the successful conviction of those responsible.

Ben Berger, owner of Olivers Jewellers, said: “I could hear a motorbike in the precinct and that made me suspect something.

“When I went across to by another shop, the bike circled back past me and back to my shop.

“They attempted to smash the window but didn't get through and then rode off.

“They were tooled up.”

He said they were trying to smash the window with a weapon which was concealed inside a black bag.

Police officers arrived at the scene within minutes and statements were taken from members of staff, Mr Berger said.

However, he added that if investigating officers try to find any CCTV from cameras in the area of Shelton Square then they could come unstuck.

Mr Berger said: “The cameras are still not working in the city centre, which is a terrible thing.

“We had a raid last year and they weren't working then either. I was devastated – there is no protection for Shelton Square.”