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Faberge eggs snatched in robbery Faberge eggs snatched in robbery
(about 1 hour later)
Thieves armed with sledgehammers smashed a jewellers' window and ran off with two rare Faberge eggs among a haul worth around £250,000.Thieves armed with sledgehammers smashed a jewellers' window and ran off with two rare Faberge eggs among a haul worth around £250,000.
Two men wearing balaclava masks pulled up outside Clive Ranger in Cardiff city centre at 1030 GMT. Two men wearing balaclava masks pulled up outside Clive Ranger in Cardiff city centre at 1030 GMT on Tuesday.
One of the eggs is one of just 12 in the world. They also took a £6,000 Faberge watch and diamond rings. They grabbed the jewels from the shop window before escaping in a stolen getaway car which hours later was found burning in a Cardiff street.
The robbers escaped in an awaiting stolen car as members of the public tried to stop them. Police cordoned off the area and a major investigation is now underway.
The robbers began smashing the windows of the shop, on St Mary's Street, just after staff had finished putting out the window displays. The masked raiders smashed the toughened-glass window with sledgehammers just after staff had put the items on display at the store on St Mary's Street.
After shattering the toughened glass, the robbers grabbed at the window display. They dropped the sledgehammers on the pavement and ran into an awaiting car before speeding off. Members of the public tried to stop them, but they dropped the sledgehammers on the pavement and sped off in a waiting stolen car.
The robbers discarded their sledgehammers outside the shop Police immediately launched an appeal for witnesses, and issued details of a stolen VW car they were trying to trace - registration number CV07 PVL.
The most distinctive items taken are two Faberge eggs - modern versions of the jewel-encrusted ornaments that were created for the Russian Tsars. A car matching that description and registration plate was later discovered on fire at Plasturton Gardens in the Pontcanna area, not far from the city centre.
The getaway car was found burnt out in a Cardiff street
Eyewitnesses said three police cars and two vans were quickly on the scene, and the park was cordoned off.
The most distinctive items taken in the robbery are two Faberge eggs - modern versions of the jewel-encrusted ornaments that were created for the Russian Tsars.
One called a hen egg which contains little chicks and rabbits, is worth £65,000. The robbers broke it off its base making it almost impossible to sell on.One called a hen egg which contains little chicks and rabbits, is worth £65,000. The robbers broke it off its base making it almost impossible to sell on.
The second is a Welsh egg made exclusively for Clive Ranger and is valued at £18,000.The second is a Welsh egg made exclusively for Clive Ranger and is valued at £18,000.
The thieves also took a Faberge watch and some diamond rings, bringing the total haul to around £250,000.The thieves also took a Faberge watch and some diamond rings, bringing the total haul to around £250,000.
The Welsh egg designed exclusively for the jeweller
Clive Ranger store manager Karl Parry said witnesses had seen one of the men carrying a firearm.Clive Ranger store manager Karl Parry said witnesses had seen one of the men carrying a firearm.
He said staff at the jewellers did not see the robbers but were "shocked and shaken" by the raid.He said staff at the jewellers did not see the robbers but were "shocked and shaken" by the raid.
The stolen eggs will be difficult to dispose of, says the manager
"The jewellery is kept in a safe overnight and we had just finished putting it all out in the window displays when we heard this almighty bang on the window," he said."The jewellery is kept in a safe overnight and we had just finished putting it all out in the window displays when we heard this almighty bang on the window," he said.
"We personally did not see anything but lots of people were around the store and saw it all.""We personally did not see anything but lots of people were around the store and saw it all."
Safe installer Tony Harley, from Wolverhampton, described how he used his car to try to stop the robbers escaping.Safe installer Tony Harley, from Wolverhampton, described how he used his car to try to stop the robbers escaping.
"I pulled the van in front of the car so he couldn't drive off. I was just trying to get my camera on my phone to take his picture," he said."I pulled the van in front of the car so he couldn't drive off. I was just trying to get my camera on my phone to take his picture," he said.
He was looking straight at me and he was just shouting to the chaps who were robbing the place to hurry up Bystander Tony Harley
"He was looking straight at me and he was just shouting to the chaps who were robbing the place to hurry up."He was looking straight at me and he was just shouting to the chaps who were robbing the place to hurry up.
"They all just bundled into the car and he couldn't move off. So I tried to keep him where he was but he just went up the kerb and was driving along the pavement. He could have hit anyone really.""They all just bundled into the car and he couldn't move off. So I tried to keep him where he was but he just went up the kerb and was driving along the pavement. He could have hit anyone really."
Police are appealing for witnesses to the robber and anyone who has seen the stolen VW car used as a get-away - registration number CV07 PVL.
On Tuesday evening, a city centre park was cordoned off following reports of a car explosion.
Eyewitnesses said three police cars and two police vans attended the incident at Plasturton Gardens.
It was not clear whether the car was related to the robbery.