A daring burglary at a luxury mansion in St John’s Wood, London, has resulted in the theft of bespoke jewellery and designer goods valued at £10.4 million. The raid, which took place on 7 December, is believed to be one of the largest house thefts in British history.
The thief, described by police as a "lone wolf," entered the 13-bedroom property on Avenue Road through a second-floor window. Over a swift 19-minute operation, he broke into a safe and rummaged through a dressing island, escaping with valuable items including a Graff diamond ring, Hermès handbags, and unique jewellery pieces.
Captured on CCTV, the suspect was masked and armed with what is thought to be a small flamethrower or noxious spray. The footage shows him scouring rooms in the 22,000 sqft mansion, which housed eight occupants, including staff and family members, at the time. He narrowly avoided detection by a maid during his escape.
The targeted family, originally from Hong Kong, has offered a reward of up to £500,000 for information leading to the burglar’s capture. An additional 10 per cent reward is promised for the recovery of stolen items.
Detective constable Paulo Roberts described the crime as “brazen,” adding: “The suspect violated the sanctuary of the victims’ home and stole items that are not only valuable but also deeply sentimental and unique. We urge anyone with information or who has been offered these items for sale to come forward.”
Among the stolen jewellery were a Van Cleef & Arpels platinum necklace, bespoke pink sapphire earrings by Katherine Wang, and several Hermès and De Beers rings. Police warned that the stolen goods are easily recognisable and may already be circulating on international black markets.
The wealthy Avenue Road area is known for its billionaire residents, and this incident has raised concerns about security. Earlier this year, insurers reported a 40 per cent rise in claims related to high-value jewellery thefts.
The investigation continues, with authorities and private investigators working to track the suspect and recover the stolen items.
Bob Blackman MP speaks during the event