Jewellery store owner chases off axe-wielding raiders with baseball bat

CCTV footage has captured the moment a jewellery store owner chased away two axe-wielding raiders after a smash-and-grab moped raid. 

The raid, which took place at the family-owned L.Guess jewellers in Whitton High Street, Twickenham at 10:45 on Monday, saw the raiders smash counter displays with an axe before making off with over £50,000 worth of jewellery and watches.

The footage, which can be seen on the Evening Standard, shows shop owner Mark Guess chasing away the raiders and hitting one on the back with a baseball bat as he fled.

Guess said: “When I saw what was happening I was in shock and just froze. But he had an axe and my first thought was ‘it’s not a gun, which is handy.’

“When he got back onto the bike I think adrenaline kicked in and I thought I’m not going to let him get away with this’.”

A Scotland Yard spokesman told the Evening Standard: “The robbery is being investigated by detectives from the Flying Squad. Enquiries continue. There have been no arrests at this early stage.”

Anyone with any information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.