These CCTV images capture the moments thieves stole from a store after driving their mopeds through a shop window in a ram raid.
It happened at an up market e-cigarette store on Ladbroke Grove in the early hours of Saturday (May 20) morning, and was the first of three break-ins in the space of 20 minutes which police are linking.
The CCTV footage was taken at Vapourcore, seconds after two mopeds carrying two people each crashed through the window.
Pillion passengers jumped off and stole stock before leaving the scene soon after.
According to police, the robbers later hit a hair salon on Abingdon Road at 2.45am, taking cash and hair clippers. Police could not say how the thieves gained entry.
They then broke into an estate agent, also on Abingdon Road, at 2.50am, stealing computer equipment. Police confirmed a moped was ridden into the door.
Speaking to getwestlondon, Vapourcore director Leon Hackett said the loss of stock and damage to the store, which opened only in November, would total around £10,000.
He said: “We were ram-raided and they’ve taken what they can. They nicked a lot of stock and caused quite a lot of damage. We’re probably looking at £10,000 combined.”
His shop is next to the 24-hour Ladbroke Grove police station, and Mr Hackett added: “It’s a nightmare for us. Its upsetting, we’re a new business trying to make a head way. This can ruin some businesses.
“And we’re next door to a 24 hour police station, that’s just unbelievable.
“I’ve been told that it was very quick. The raid was over in a couple of minutes.
“I’m shocked because we’re right at the top of Holland Park Avenue in quite an affluent area and it’s not a super busy high street.”
Detectives from Kensington and Chelsea CID are investigating, and are yet to make any arrests.
They confirmed that four suspects were riding on two mopeds.
Anyone with information that may assist police is asked to call Kensington and Chelsea CID via 101.
Keep up to date with the latest news in west London via the free getwestlondon app.
You can even set it to receive push notifications for all the breaking news in your area.
Available to download from the App Store or Google Play for Android now!
