The Chronicles of Ruination 2: Llandudno,North Wales - 'Robbers with machetes' hit high street jewellers in broad daylight

The raiders were dressed head to toe in black

Police are investigating a suspected armed robbery at a high street jewellers.

It is understood the raid in Mostyn Street, Llandudno, happened at 2.23pm.

Jeweller Gregory Narey said that four robbers were carrying machetes and were dressed head to toe in black.

They stole watches and caused extensive damage to his shop.

Police say that the offenders could have left the area in a grey BMW.

22:21SARAH HODGSON

Search for robbers continues

The search for the offenders continues as far as we are aware. We’ll hopefully be able to bring you an update from the police tomorrow. Thanks for staying with us today on this story. Remember if you have any information about the robbery that could help please contact North Wales Police.

22:09SARAH HODGSON

'Machete' gang raid Llandudno jewellers

A gang of “machete-wielding” masked robbers terrified staff as they raided a jewellery shop. Police are hunting for the four men who burst into Gregory’s on Mostyn Street, Llandudno, yesterday afternoon. They smashed glass cabinets to steal a number of expensive watches before fleeing in what is believed to be a grey BMW car. Armed police and a helicopter were spotted searching for the vehicle and its occupants as shoppers told of their shock, with one witness saying the robbers shouted “go, go, go” as they stormed the shop.

Gregory's Jewellers in Llandudno was targeted by robbers

21:59SARAH HODGSON

Full story to come

We’ll be bringing you the full story very shortly.

SARAH HODGSON

Lots of support for the store

Lots of people on social media have been telling off their shock over the incident but also sending their best wishes to the staff involved.

20:26SARAH HODGSON

Grey BMW seen abandoned

Reports coming in that the grey BMW police have been searching for has been located in an alleyway in Llandudno but minus the occupants. Officers have been making door-to-door enquiries in the area.

19:56SARAH HODGSON

Watch dramatic moment armed police in hunt for jewellery store robbers surround car

The dramatic moment armed police swoop on a car at an industrial estate shortly after the jewellery shop was raided by machete wielding robbers has been caught on camera.

Six vans full of armed officers stopped business owner Ryan Green and his friends who were in a BMW in Llandudno Junction and told them to “put their hands up.”

The armed officers were looking for a grey BMW in relation to a robbery which had taken place at Gregory’s Jewellers in Llandudno just before 2.30pm when they pulled the group over.

Ryan, 20, and his friends Jason Lyons and Alex Jones who were in a white BMW had nothing to with the raid and were let go shortly afterwards but they filmed their encounter with the police and streamed it on Facebook Live.

What we know so far

If you’re only just joining our coverage and haven’t heard what has happened - here’s what we know so far

Four men dressed in black with their faces covered entered Gregory’s Jewellers at 2.23pm
The robbers smashed glass in the store and stole expensive watches
Workers in the store have been left terrified but thankfully unharmed
The raiders got away in a grey BMW car which police are hunting for
Armed police and the helicopter have been searching for the culprits with activity seeming to centre on an industrial estate in Llandudno which has been taped off.
Anyone with information relating to the incident is asked to call St Asaph CID on 101 quoting reference U180656. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or contact the control room direct via the new web live chat, here, or by phone 101.

19:06SARAH HODGSON

Hunt still ongoing

As far as we are aware police are still searching for the culprits.

18:07SARAH HODGSON

Industrial estate cordoned off

Witnesses are saying that the industrial estate in Llandudno Junction has been cordoned off

17:48SARAH HODGSON

Shock in the community

Lots of people have been left shocked that such an incident could happen in Llandudno. Witnesses have told how it all happened in a matter of seconds.

17:40SARAH HODGSON

Interview with owner

Here’s what Gregory Narey has said following the robbery.

“Four members of staff were in the shop at the time and were very shaken up. Thankfully no-one was injured, but it was very scary and they were shook-up afterwards. They perpetrators made off with some expensive watches. We are insured, but our main concern is the smashed glass as well as the damage to the fittings and furnishings. The four men were fully kitted out in black from head to toe and couldn’t be identified at all. I’d like to thank the police for their help, but the most important thing, as I said, was that no-one was hurt.”

17:28SARAH HODGSON

AM offers store her support following "horrifying" robbery

Aberconwy AM Janet Finch-Saunders has told of her shock and told how the robbery will come as a huge blow just before Christmas.

She said: “I was shocked to learn whilst I was present in the Senedd, Cardiff Bay, that the long established Gregory’s Jewellers has been subjected to such an horrific robbery today. Whilst I am relieved that Greg and his team have not been physically injured - the sickening impact of such a potentially dangerous attack cannot be understated. This is a long established family business with an amazing staff team, providing quality jewellery and gifts. This will come as a huge blow - in particular at this time before the busy Christmas period. I shall certainly do my best to support them in any way so that we can see this business ready and open again very quickly. Sending my most kind thoughts to the family and staff at this time. I hope that those responsible for the robbery will be caught and that legal proceedings will proceed. I wish North Wales Police all the best with their enquiries and would urge anyone who might have witnessed the robbery to contact them immediately.”

Enquiries are ongoing

An update here from the National Police Air Service in Barton, Manchester. The helicopter has been spotted hovering over Llandudno and Conwy county in the search for the grey BMW and its occupants. Enquiries are ongoing they say.

17:04SARAH HODGSON

Reports of police surrounding a grey BMW

Reports on social media that police have surrounded a grey BMW near Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn. We’ll bring you more on this when we can.

17:02SARAH HODGSON

Witnesses urged to come forward

Just a reminder that police are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the incident or anything leading up to it or shortly after.

Anyone with information relating to the incident is asked to call St Asaph CID on 101 quoting reference U180656. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or contact the control room direct on 101.

16:54SARAH HODGSON

White BMW surrounded by police not involved

Witnesses have reported seeing a white BMW surrounded by police earlier. However, the driver and occupants were not involved with the incident and the police have now let them carry on with their journey.

16:52SARAH HODGSON

Heavy police presence on industrial estate

We’re told that there is still heavy police presence on the industrial estate in Llandudno Junction.

16:42SARAH HODGSON

Shopowner tells how men were dressed "head to toe in black"

Shop owner Gregory Neary has spoken to the Daily Post about the terrifying incident.

He tells us that the staff are all okay but very shaken up. There were four men who targeted the shop and they were dressed head to toe in black and had their faces covered. The robbers stole some expensive watches, however he tells us that his main worry at the moment aside from the wellbeing of his staff are the damage that has been caused to the fixtures and fittings in the shop.

16:35SARAH HODGSON

Alleyway near Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn closed

Reports coming in that an alleyway near Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn has now been closed by police.

16:31SARAH HODGSON

Shutters put down on the shop

As mentioned earlier, the police have left the scene and the tape has been removed. The store has now been closed and the shutters have come down.

16:30SARAH HODGSON

Inside the store

Here’s a photo from inside the store showing the broken glass.

16:29SARAH HODGSON

Watches taken by robbers, says owner

Our reporters on the scene have spoken to the owner of the store. He says that the robbers - four men - stole a number of expensive watches and items. He says that the girls working at the time are understandably very shocked and shaken by the terrifying ordeal.

16:26SARAH HODGSON

Robbers heard shouting "go, go, go"

One witness has told that the robbers were heard to shout “go, go, go” at one stage.

16:25SARAH HODGSON

Officers working hard to track down suspects

Police are unable to release any more information about the incident and offenders right now as officers are working hard to investigate the robbery.

Unconfirmed reports suggest three masked men armed with machetes burst into the store. Police are hunting a grey BMW that the offenders used to make their getaway.

16:16SARAH HODGSON

Police tape removed

Officers have also taken down the police tape around the store.

16:15SARAH HODGSON

Police leaving the scene

Police vehicles seem to be leaving the scene.

16:15SARAH HODGSON

Store targeted is Gregory's jewellers

Told that the store targeted is Gregory’s jewellers - all staff are ok but very shocked by the incident.

16:09SARAH HODGSON

Business owners shocked by robbery

Lots of shock that the robbery has taken place during broad daylight.

16:07SARAH HODGSON

Llandudno Junction industrial estate closed by police

Getting reports of armed police taping off the industrial estate in Llandudno Junction.

16:02SARAH HODGSON

Smashed glass on floor

Our man on the scene Tom Davidson says that there is smashed glass on the floor.

Fortunately nobody has been hurt.

Armed police spotted

Witnesses are reporting that armed police have been seen heading through Llandudno Junction and several police cars have gone flying through Deganwy.

15:53SARAH HODGSON

Crime Scene Investigators on scene

There is a heavy police presence in the town centre and crime scene investigators have arrived.

15:51SARAH HODGSON

Jewellers taped off by police

Here’s a photo from the scene.

15:45SARAH HODGSON

Robbers may have been armed

Reports locally are suggesting that three men entered the jewellers armed with machetes but this has not been confirmed yet by police.

15:40SARAH HODGSON

Police thank witnesses who have already come forward

The robbery was witnesses by several shoppers.

15:38SARAH HODGSON

Police appealing for witnesses

Police are appealing for witnesses following the robbery.

They say it happened at 2.23pm today at a jewellers shop on Mostyn Street.

Detective Inspector Iwan Roberts said: “We believe the offenders may have left the area in a grey BMW. A number of witnesses have come forward and we are appealing to anyone else who may have seen someone acting suspiciously in the vicinity at the time of the incident, to contact police.”

No-one was injured, but the shop assistants were left shocked by the incident.

15:35SARAH HODGSON

Robbers believed to have got away in a grey BMW