Ram raid at the jewellers

A jewellery shop raider was ‘given a good kicking’ by members of the public after he took part in a smash-and-grab raid.

Ben Wegener, 34 was jailed for ten years at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday, 16 January after pleading guilty to robbery, dangerous driving, and possession of offensive weapon, criminal damage and receiving stolen goods at a previous hearing.

At around 17:20hrs on 25 October 2019, Wegener and two accomplices drove a black Range Rover through the front of a jewellery shop in Uxbridge Road, Shepherds Bush W12, smashing the windows and narrowly missing the people inside.

The robbers got out of the vehicle and then smashed the glass display cases using a sledgehammer and a hammer, and put items of jewellery into bags.

By this time, a large number of onlookers had gathered outside. Having ransacked the store, the suspects attempted to flee the scene.

Wegener was prevented from escaping by members of the public outside, and he was detained until police a few minutes later.

Wegener was subsequently arrested and later charged with the offences. He pleaded guilty to the offences on 26 November.

The Range Rover used by the robbers was recovered by police, and found to have been stolen from an address in Wandsworth earlier that month, and displaying false number plates.

Detective Constable Sam Weller of the Central West Robbery Squad, who led the investigation, said: “This was a reckless robbery committed in front of shoppers on a busy high street. It was sheer luck that no one was seriously injured when the vehicle smashed through the shop front, and the shop owner and customers were threatened with serious violence when the robbers where inside.

“The raid was thwarted by members of the public who chased down and held Wegener as he tried to escape. This was a terrifying incident for the victims and everyone who witnessed it unfold, and Wegener will now spend a significant period of time in jail.”

DC Weller added: “Unfortunately, his two accomplices left the scene and remain outstanding. We will continue to pursue leads in order to identify them, and we would urge anyone who has information about those people to contact police.”