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Faberge eggs snatched in robbery Faberge eggs snatched in robbery
(about 3 hours 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 on Tuesday.Two men wearing balaclava masks pulled up outside Clive Ranger in Cardiff city centre at 1030 GMT on Tuesday.
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.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.
Police cordoned off the area and a major investigation is now underway. Police cordoned off the area and a major investigation is now under way.
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.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.
Members of the public tried to stop them, but they dropped the sledgehammers on the pavement and sped off in a waiting stolen car.Members of the public tried to stop them, but they dropped the sledgehammers on the pavement and sped off in a waiting stolen car.
Police immediately launched an appeal for witnesses, and issued details of a stolen VW car they were trying to trace - registration number CV07 PVL.Police immediately launched an appeal for witnesses, and issued details of a stolen VW car they were trying to trace - registration number CV07 PVL.
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.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.
An eyewitness said there was intense heat and explosionsAn eyewitness said there was intense heat and explosions
Eyewitnesses said three police cars and two vans were quickly on the scene, and the park was cordoned off.Eyewitnesses said three police cars and two vans were quickly on the scene, and the park was cordoned off.
Eyewitness Ceri George said there were a "series of explosions" as the tyres and windows of the car blew.Eyewitness Ceri George said there were a "series of explosions" as the tyres and windows of the car blew.
"At one point my neighbour's little girl was in the front room and a shard of metal flew straight through the window and smashed glass all over her, so I think we were really afraid," she said."At one point my neighbour's little girl was in the front room and a shard of metal flew straight through the window and smashed glass all over her, so I think we were really afraid," she said.
"It was very, very intense heat and huge big black billowing smoke and really big flames.""It was very, very intense heat and huge big black billowing smoke and really big flames."
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.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.
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 managerThe 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."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."