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Robbers strike at the heart of Manchester

17/04/2008

Police are linking two incidents in which upmarket department stores in the centre of Manchester were targeted by armed gangs yesterday.

The robbers, armed with claw hammers, entered Harvey Nichols in New Cathedral Street and Selfridges in Exchange Square at 11:00 BST.

Two men wearing motorcycle helmets broke cabinets at Harvey Nichols and stole watches worth £300,000. At the same time, two men smashed display cases at Selfridges, while a third filled a bag with watches worth £400,000.

A security guard who worked at Harvey Nichols has been taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Detective Sergeant Dave Turner, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "This incident has left one man with minor injuries and a number of other people extremely distressed.

"These men seem to have had a clear plan of attack. They were after high-value pieces and knew which counters to target to find them."

Staff at both outlets said the gangs arrived and left in a red van, which the police later identified as a Ford Transit with false plates.