In Broad Daylight, a Jewelry Store is Raided by £300,000 in UK Heist Captured on CCTV
In Broad Daylight, a Danyaal Jewellers is Raided by £300,000 in Birmingham UK Heist Captured on CCTV
In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about the daring robbery that happened in Birmingham UK, where a jewelry store Danyaal Jewellers was raided by £300,000 in broad daylight. The heist was captured on CCTV and witnessed by many people who were shocked and terrified by the scene.
What happened in the heist?
The heist took place on March 3, 2023, at around 12:22 pm, when a gang of five men used a stolen Toyota Hilux pickup truck to smash their way into Danyaal Jewellers, a store located in Sparkbrook, Birmingham. The store sells 22-carat gold jewellery and is popular among Asian customers.
The robbers reversed the truck into the shop front, causing it to collapse and creating a loud bang that alerted nearby residents and shoppers. Three of the men then entered the store armed with sledgehammers and axes, and started to break the glass display cabinets and fill their sports bags with gold jewellery. The whole operation lasted for about 70 seconds, during which they managed to steal between four and five kilograms of gold jewellery worth £292,165.
A fourth man stayed in the driver's seat of the truck, while a fifth man acted as "crowd control" by waving an axe at anyone who tried to intervene or get close to the scene. The robbers then fled the scene in the truck and a black Land Rover Discovery that was waiting for them nearby. They left behind a black Toyota Corolla that they had used to block the road on one side of the store.
The heist was captured on CCTV cameras from the store and nearby businesses, as well as mobile phone footage filmed by witnesses who were shocked and terrified by what they saw. A staff member who was inside the store at the time of the raid was nearly hit by falling debris when the truck crashed into the shop, but luckily escaped unharmed.
How were the robbers caught?
The police launched a major investigation into the heist and used CCTV footage, mobile phone data, forensic evidence and witness statements to identify and track down the gang members. They were all arrested within days of the robbery and charged with conspiracy to rob and possessing an offensive weapon.
The gang members were:
1- John Gourlay, 49, from Pershore Road, Selly Oak
2- Trevor Leek, 44, from Southgate Road, Kingstanding
3- Justin Boylan, 51, from Schoolacre Road, Shard End
4- Arfan Latif, 38, from Kinver Croft, Balsall Heath
5- Hassan Zulfiqar, 26, also from Kinver Croft
The police were able to link them to the heist by various pieces of evidence, such as:
- Gourlay's fingerprints on a sale sheet from a jewellery shop in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter where he sold a stolen bangle for £1,500 two hours after the raid. He was also wearing the same clothing as seen on CCTV.
- Zulfiqar's thumbprints on pads that were used to fix false number plates to the cars used in the heist. He was also caught on CCTV buying tape and pads from an auto-parts store minutes before the smash and grab.
- Tags from the stolen jewellery found on Boylan's sofa at his home.
- DNA evidence from clothing items discarded by the robbers after they changed their outfits.
- Mobile phone data that showed their movements before and after the heist.
The gang members denied any involvement in the heist and claimed they were innocent or had alibis. However, they were found guilty by a jury after a four-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court on February 23, 2023. They are due to be sentenced on March 13.
What was the motive behind the heist?
The police believe that the motive behind the heist was greed and desperation. The gang members were all struggling financially and had debts or drug problems. They saw an opportunity to make a quick profit by targeting a jewellery store that had a large amount of valuable
## What was the impact of the heist on the store and the community?
The heist had a devastating impact on the store and the community, as Danyaal Jewellers was a well-established and respected business that had been serving customers for over 20 years. The store owner, Danyaal Ahmed, said he was heartbroken and felt violated by the robbery, which had caused him a huge financial loss and emotional distress.
He said he had worked hard to build up his business and reputation, and that he had loyal customers who trusted him with their jewellery. He said he was grateful for the support and sympathy he received from his family, friends, customers and fellow traders in the area.
He also praised the police for their swift and professional investigation, which led to the arrest and conviction of the gang members. He said he hoped that justice would be served and that the robbers would receive a long prison sentence for their crime.
The heist also shocked and angered the local community, especially the Asian community, who felt targeted and vulnerable by the attack. Many people expressed their solidarity with Danyaal Jewellers and condemned the violence and greed of the robbers.
Some people also raised concerns about the security and safety of jewellery stores in Birmingham, which have been hit by several similar raids in recent years. They called for more police patrols, CCTV cameras and security measures to prevent such incidents from happening again.
FAQs
Q: When did the heist take place?
A: The heist took place on March 3, 2023, at around 12:22 pm.
Q: Where did the heist take place?
A: The heist took place at Danyaal Jewellers, a store located in Sparkbrook, Birmingham.
Q: How did the robbers carry out the heist?
A: The robbers used a stolen Toyota Hilux pickup truck to smash their way into the store, then used sledgehammers and axes to break the glass display cabinets and steal gold jewellery.
Q: How much jewellery did they steal?
A: They stole between four and five kilograms of 22-carat gold jewellery worth £292,165.
Q: How long did they spend inside the store?
A: They spent about 70 seconds inside the store.
Q: How were they caught?
A: They were caught by the police using CCTV footage, mobile phone data, forensic evidence and witness statements.
Q: Who were they?
A: They were five men from Birmingham, aged between 26 and 51.
Q: What were they charged with?
A: They were charged with conspiracy to rob and possessing an offensive weapon.
Q: What was their motive?
A: Their motive was greed and desperation, as they were struggling financially and had debts or drug problems.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we have told you everything you need to know about the daring robbery that happened in Birmingham UK, where a jewelry store Danyaal Jewellers was raided by £300,000 in broad daylight. The heist was captured on CCTV and witnessed by many people who were shocked and terrified by the scene.
We have also told you how the robbers were caught, what their motive was, and what was the impact of the heist on the store and the community. We hope you found this article informative and interesting.