Jewel heist at top British arcade

POLICE were yesterday trying to establish the value of jewellery stolen in a smash and grab raid from one of Britain’s most prestigious shopping arcades.

Thieves broke into the heavily protected Royal Exchange shopping centre in London at 10pm on Saturday.

They raided two stores – the high-end jewellers De Beers and Swiss watchmakers Omega.

Yesterday, staff at the centre said they had been told a BMW had pulled up at the rear of the imposing Grade 1 listed building at 10pm last night.

Four men had jumped out of the vehicle and made their way into the premises. London police said that no arrests had been made so far.