Jewel thieves jailed for 15 years after nicking £225,000 of gems in smash & grab with sledgehammer

THREE balaclava-clad thugs who carried out a brazen daylight smash-and-grab at a family jeweller and stole £225,000 worth of gems have been caged. Trio Deniz Mehmet, 28, Lee Ramsey, 46, and Robert Clarke, 50, targeted Gregory & Co jewellers in Richmond, south west London, on January 31. The thugs relentlessly smashed their way into the jewellery shop Credit: Metropolitan Police Once inside they heisted £225,000 worth of jewellery Credit: Metropolitan Police They admitted conspiracy to rob and were each sentenced tor five years and three months at Kingston Crown Court yesterday (July 30). The combined sentences total 15 years and nine months behind bars. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Shocking footage of the raid – which later went viral – showed the gang relentlessly battering their way into the family-run shop. Witnesses watched in horror as one robber repeatedly hammered at the large front window until the glass finally gave way. Deniz Mehmet, 28, has been caged Credit: Met Police Lee Ramsey, 46, has been caged Robert Clarke, 50, has been caged Credit: Met Police Officers were able to track down the culprits by analysing CCTV footage Credit: Met Police Another stood by clutching a large blue Ikea bag before the pair stuffed it with watches, bracelets and other jewellery from the smashed display. Brave members of staff desperately tried to fend off the gang but were unable to stop them. The thieves then fled on foot as stunned shoppers looked on, fearing for their own safety. The robbery happened in Richmond, the picturesque London suburb where hit TV comedy Ted Lasso is filmed. Most read in The Sun Detectives from the Met’s Flying Squad launched a major investigation, trawling through CCTV, carrying out forensic examinations and recovering a vehicle believed to be linked to the raid. Their enquiries led officers to identify Mehmet, Ramsey and Clarke, who were arrested during a series of raids in Essex in March and April. Body-worn camera footage released by police showed officers storming Ramsey’s home in the early hours of March 31 before handcuffing him. Clarke was arrested after officers woke him while he was in bed during the same operation. The moment cops arrest Ramsey Credit: Met Police The moment cops cuff Clarke Credit: Met Police Mehmet was later detained while walking along a street in Basildon on April 8. The three men, from Rochford, Harlow and Basildon respectively, all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob. Despite the convictions, none of the stolen jewellery has ever been recovered. Detective Superintendent Dan Mitchell, from the Met’s Flying Squad, said: “Robberies of this kind cause real concern for residents and businesses in the communities that are targeted. It’s they who feel the immediate impact. “These sentences mark a significant step in what has been a detailed and determined investigation. “I hope they demonstrate our commitment to tackling smash-and-grab robberies in London by going after those involved, wherever they are. “The groups responsible should be under no illusion – we will pursue you relentlessly and hold you to account.” The family-run jeweller, which has served Richmond for more than 45 years, previously thanked the public for rallying behind the business following the raid. A spokesman for Gregory & Co said: “We’re a local, independent, family jewellers and have been in Richmond for more than 45 years. “The public response to this incident has been overwhelming and we are grateful for the support and kindness we’ve received. “We are reassured that overall, good outweighs the bad.”