Store raiders grab £500,000 watches

The robbers struck at Selfridges in Manchester while the store was open and busy. They walked into the premises in Exchange Square wearing high visibility jackets and trousers shortly after 7.20pm on Wednesday.

Police said the trio then smashed display cabinets with an axe and crowbars and stole 100 watches.

They escaped in a black Mercedes Benz driven by a fourth offender. The car was found abandoned in Robert Street, Strangeways, a short time later.

Watches including Audemars Piguet, Jaeger Lecoultre, Hublot and Cartier were stolen.

Detective Constable Adam Cronshaw, said: “This was a brazen robbery while the store was open and busy with members of the public.

“It was clearly well planned and executed.

“These men were in and out in less than 80 seconds and were very particular about the watches they selected.”