Moped raiders snatch £10,000 Dinny Hall jewellery haul

Published: 17 September, 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB

CELEBRITY jeweller Dinny Hall’s Islington shop has been targeted for the second time by raiders who took £10,000 worth of jewellery on the eve of the unveiling of the designer’s latest collection.

The Upper Street store was robbed in daylight in May last year when one of the four raiders was caught.

But last Wednesday sledgehammer-wielding robbers on mopeds struck again, this time at night, snatching £10,000 worth of the designer’s new collection, due to be revealed the next day.

The shop is popular with A-list celebrities. Singer Lily Allen used to work behind the counter of the Angel branch and James Bond star Daniel Craig, Kirsten Dunst, Elizabeth Hurley, Ralph Fiennes and Thandie Newton are all customers.

Owner Ms Hall, who lives near Regent’s Canal in Islington, said: “It’s been incredibly depressing but we have to get back up again. I’m disappointed they got in at all. 

“Thanks to our fabulous staff we were up and trading again within two days, choosing to be positive and make the best of things and to carry on regardless.”

The four thieves, on two mopeds, struck just after midnight. They smashed through the front door and shattered glass display cabinets, leaving thousands of pounds of damage in their wake.

The raiders grabbed handfuls of the new collection – inspired by the iconic 1960s photo of actress Talitha Getty in Marrakesh – but got away with only silver jewellery. Gold items were locked in the safe.

The raiders escaped along Cross Street towards Essex Road before police arrived. A black Honda motorbike has been recovered. Ms Hall said her collection signified a new direction for the shop. “We were quite excited,” she added. “Luckily, we can remake it but it will take five weeks. They smash­ed all the standing showcases to smithereens. 

“The ironic thing is it’s no use to them. The jewellery was all silver, predominantly gold-plated, but you can’t sell it off. Where will they sell it, all smashed up and scratched? The stupid thing is they go to all this trouble and risk for no real gain.”

She added: “The police were very good. They really know how to be empathetic when something like this happens. We’re increasing security so it won’t happen again.

“It’s a real loss to us. It would have been better to celebrate our 25 years of business without this, but you don’t reach this milestone in the designer jewellery world without a lot of resilience.”

In the previous robbery, a passing plain-clothes police officer pinned one of the thieves to the ground. 

A 17-year-old was later sentenced to a two-year detention and training order.

Anyone with information about last Wednesday’s raid is asked to call police on 0207 421 0150 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.