Diamond necklace that sparked £1.3m armed raid on Queen’s jewellers
ARMED robbers behind Scotland’s biggest jewellery heist specifically targeted a diamond necklace worth £325,000, detectives believe.
The three men took 90 seconds to snatch £1.3million worth of designer watches, rings and necklaces from Hamilton & Inches, the Queen’s jewellers in Edinburgh.
The balaclava-clad gang terrified staff with axes, machetes and hammers before smashing open display cases in last month’s raid.
They escaped in a white BMW 318s driven by a fourth man.
Police believe they travelled from either Lancashire or Merseyside after studying Hamilton & Inches’ display cases weeks earlier.
The BMW – stolen in the Greater Manchester area – was abandoned in Edinburgh’s Gloucester Lane.
Detectives have now recovered a dark blue Honda CRV which was used by the gang after they left the BMW.
Officers also revealed the diamond Chatila necklace was the most expensive item taken on Friday, June 6.
It was also a frightening experience for the staff at the shop and we are working hard to establish exactly what happened
Chatila earrings worth £95,000, eight Patek Philippe watches ranging from £22,000 to £66,000 and diamond rings worth £61,000 were also seized.
Chatila, a Geneva-based, family-run firm, famously created an amazing piece inspired by the Coeur de la Mer necklace Kate Winslet wore in the blockbuster film Titanic.
Detective Inspector Carol Craig, who is leading the investigation, yesterday said the robbers definitely “knew what they were looking for”.
She said: “It was also a frightening experience for the staff at the shop and we are working hard to establish exactly what happened.”
Officers believe at least four people would have been in the Honda CRV.
Police are appealing for anyone who saw the car, thought to be a 2007 model, on the day of the raid to contact them.
Det Insp Craig added: “We hope that the recovery of the dark blue Honda CRV could prove crucial.”
