BMW gang in City store jewels grab

Burglars, who are thought to have driven up in a BMW, broke into De Beers and Omega at the Royal Exchange, just yards from the Bank of England in the City, on Saturday evening.

City of London police said they did not yet know the value of the stolen jewellery.

The Royal Exchange, built in 1565, is located between Threadneedle Street and Cornhill and boasts more than 30 luxury stores including Gucci, Hermes and Cartier.

A security guard working at the imposing white stone building yesterday said staff had been told the robbers entered through the back of the property.

The man, who did not want to be named, said: "We've been told that at about 10pm last night a BMW turned up at the back entrance, four men jumped out and managed to get inside the building somehow.

"At the moment we don't know how much has been taken, but with the price of some of the stuff inside these shops just a few items could easily run up to a very, very large amount."

The robbery comes almost a year after raiders stole 40m worth of jewellery from Graff Diamonds in London's Mayfair district.