Police are investigating three smash and grabs by moped gangs in Westminster within little more than 24 hours.

Two occurred on the same road, Regent Street, as thieves first stole from the Apple store on Monday (November 13) before a clothes store, believed to be Canada Goose, was targeted at around 1.30am on Tuesday (November 14).

Another clothes store, in St John’s Wood High Street, was ransacked at around the same time on Tuesday morning.

Security staff in the Regent Street break-ins were threatened with a hammer on both occasions, and a quantity of goods were stolen.

Police say the incidents at the clothes stores on Tuesday morning may be linked.

The incident at the Apple store happened at around 12.40am and was captured on video by Miah Mohammad Sheful, 28, who shot the 44-second clip as he waited for a bus.

Ten thieves wearing helmets smashed their way into the Apple store before making off iPhones, iPads and watches.

Mr Sheful said it took the suspects several attempts to break in the door of the tech giant’s flagship store.

Passing cars started beeping their horns to prevent the burglary as they realised what was unfolding, the digital marketer said, but within seconds the gang had fled on five mopeds.

The suspects, described as wearing dark clothing, are said to have made off northbound along Regent Street.

The man who threatened the guard was described as black.

Two iPhone Xs were later recovered near King's Cross.

Thieves then struck at the recently opened Canada Goose flagship store, it is understood, just days after animal rights activists PETA held protests there over its use coyote fur.

Police were called to the clothing store to reports that 10 suspects on five scooters had smashed the window before entering the shop.

Another member of security was threatened with a hammer as he tried to stop the suspects, but was not injured.

A still fro the video taken by Miah Mohammad Sheful of 10 thieves smashing into the Apple store in Regent Street

The suspects fled with a quantity of clothing.

The attempted break-in at a clothing shop in St John’s Wood High Street, which police are linking to the Canada Goose incident, happened at the around the same time.

Six suspects on three scooters smashed the front door but left empty-handed.

Detectives from Westminster CID are investigating.

There has been a surge in thefts of mopeds or scooters , as well as in crimes carried out by individuals riding them.

Figures suggest that in the year to Septembe, there were more than 19,385 “moped enabled” crimes in the capital - an average of 53 a day - including thefts and robberies.

Police say there are a number of factors behind the trend, including a rise in the number of people using scooters to commute and a growing market for second-hand mobile phone parts.

Anyone who witnessed the incidents can call Westminster CID via 101 or Twitter @MetCC.

Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 .

Time Line

London moped crime timeline since October

  1. Woman assaulted by moped thugs while cycling in Brentford on Halloween

    According to police, at around 5pm on Tuesday, October 31, a female was cycling along Boston Manor Road when a moped drove up behind her and assaulted her.

  2. Harlesden stabbing: Third delivery driver within days attacked as thugs attempt to steal moped

    A 30-year-old delivery driver was threatened at knifepoint and stabbed by thugs trying to rob him of his moped in Harlesden, Brent.

  3. Walthamstow acid attack: Boys, 14 and 16, arrested on suspicion of GBH after delivery driver left fighting for his life

    A 14-year-old and a 16-year-old have been arrested in connection with a suspected acid attack which left a 32-year-old man "likely to lose the sight in both eyes" and fighting for his life in hospital.

    Two suspected acid attacks were both carried out on delivery drivers on Thursday (November 2).

  4. West End department stores targeted in moped-enabled smash and grab burglaries as suspects use hammers to break in

    During the first incident at around 12.30am on Tuesday, October 3 at Liberty in Regent Street, a large amount of toiletry items were stolen after six suspects on three mopeds forced their way into the store by smashing a front window with hammers.

    House of Fraser in Oxford Street was targeted in a similar way at 12.45am on Thursday, October 26 when designer handbags were stolen.

  5. North Kensington police incident: Eight men arrested after reports of shooting by suspects on moped

    Eight males have been arrested on suspicion of firearms offences after reports of a shooting in North Kensington on Wednesday (October 25).

    At around 8.22pm, officers from Metropolitan Police were called to reports of a shooting by suspects on a moped at a commercial property in Latimer Road.

  6. Kensal Green moped robbery: Gang violently kick woman from bike before speeding away from scene

    A woman had her moped snatched from beneath her by a pair of violent thieves in Kensal Green on Monday (October 23) night.

    The incident happened in Palermo Road, Brent, at around 10pm, said the Metropolitan Police.

    The victim, a woman in her 40s, was on her moped when two males, also on a moped, approached her.

    She stopped to let them pass only to be kicked from her bike, which was then stolen by the pillion passenger from the other moped.

  7. King's Road police incident: Driver of crashed moped arrested for offences including knife-point robbery

    The driver of a moped that crashed in Chelsea on Tuesday (October 17) evening has been arrested for offences including a knife-point robbery.

    The vehicle hit a car in King’s Road while fleeing police at around 5pm.

    Officers are linking the incident to reports of a robbery in nearby Cadogan Square, which saw two men on a moped steal a wristwatch from a woman.

  8. Fulham stabbing: Teenager taken to hospital with stab wounds after being robbed by two men on a moped

    A teenager has been stabbed and robbed by two men on a moped in a late-night attack in Fulham.

    The victim needed stitches after he was knifed in the shoulder, hip and bottom while walking along Stevenage Road just after 1.30am on Sunday (October 15).

    The 18-year-old was also punched several times in the face before the thieves made off with his wallet.

  9. Paddington fatal stabbing: Teenagers arrested hours after attack outside block of flats

    A murder investigation has been launched and two teenagers arrested after a man was fatally stabbed outside a block of flats in Paddington.

    Police and paramedics were called to Fleming Court, in St Mary's Terrace, to reports of a man suffering from stab injuries at around 11.45pm on Monday (October 16).

    The suspects in the investigation are two men who were riding on mopeds, said police.

  10. Man 'detained by member of public' on the ground at scene of attempted smash-and-grab raid

    A hero member of the public detained a man at the scene of an attempted armed smash-and-grab raid and held him until police arrived.

    Five men allegedly tried to break the glass front of a watch store in Avery Row, Westminster, but failed to do so.

    The police spokesman said one man at the scene "fell off a moped and was detained by a member of the public for a short time until officers arrived at the location".

  11. Regent Street smash-and-grab raiders flee jewellers on mopeds armed with hammers, axes and bats

    A pedestrian was hurt after a group of armed raiders broke into a jewellers in up-market Regent Street on Monday night (October 9).

    The thieves took high value items before speeding away from the scene on scooters, one of which then struck a pedestrian.

  12. Apple store among three businesses targeted in Westminster moped gang smash and grab spree

    Police are investigating three smash and grabs by moped gangs in Westminster within little more than 24 hours.

    Two occurred on the same road, Regent Street, as thieves first stole from the Apple store on Monday (November 13) before a clothes store, believed to be Canada Goose, was targeted at around 1.30am on Tuesday (November 14).

    Another clothes store, in St John’s Wood High Street, was ransacked at around the same time on Tuesday morning.

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