Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Thieves climbed down elevator shaft, drilled through wall in London jewelry district heist

LONDON – Police say thieves climbed down an elevator shaft and drilled through 2 metre-thick (6-foot thick) concrete walls to raid safety deposit boxes in London’s jewelry district.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Johnson of the Metropolitan Police said Thursday that the robbers forced open 70 boxes in the heist in Hatton Garden, a street that is home to many jewelry and diamond businesses.

Johnson said the thieves left the vault in a “chaotic” state. It was covered in dust and debris, the floor strewn with discarded safety deposit boxes and power tools.

Police have not put an estimate on how much was stolen from the boxes, used by many local dealers to store jewelry.

The robbery took place over the long Easter weekend and was only noticed when businesses reopened Tuesday.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.