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Rox jewellery heist: Pair admit £730,000 Edinburgh robbery Rox jewellery heist: Pair admit £730,000 Edinburgh robbery
(about 1 hour later)
Two men have admitted their involvement in stealing jewellery and watches worth £730,000 in a heist in Edinburgh.Two men have admitted their involvement in stealing jewellery and watches worth £730,000 in a heist in Edinburgh.
At the High Court in Glasgow, Elliot Jorgensen, 25, and Anthony Boyd, 26, pled guilty to being involved in the armed raid at the Rox store in January.At the High Court in Glasgow, Elliot Jorgensen, 25, and Anthony Boyd, 26, pled guilty to being involved in the armed raid at the Rox store in January.
The robbery - which lasted 90 seconds - saw a large haul of expensive items snatched, including diamonds rings. The robbery - which lasted 90 seconds - saw a haul of expensive items snatched, including a £100,000 diamond collar.
Staff were threatened with a gun and an axe, and one female worker was dragged around the shop. Staff were threatened with a revolver and an axe, and one female worker was dragged across the shop at gunpoint.
She was one of two female members of staff who were working in the store when the thieves struck. Prosecutor Andrew Brown QC told the court that the robbery was "carefully planned" and "efficiently executed".
CCTV footage from the shop showed the men rushing in just before closing time at about 17:15. Jorgensen, from Salford, was involved in the raid itself with an unknown accomplice, while Boyd, an engineer from Manchester, had a central role in the "organisation" of the robbery, he said.
One man began smashing up display cabinets with an axe, while the other threatened the two staff. CCTV footage from the shop shows two armed men rushing into the store at about 17:15.
They made off on a motorbike, but were later arrested in Manchester. The two female members of staff, sales assistant Samera Afzal, and sales manager Ho Suet So, "immediately froze with fear", Mr Brown said.
The black Honda 650 motorbike was found abandoned in Northumberland Street Lane North in Edinburgh. Jorgensen took out a revolver and yelled: "Don't move."
Speaking at the time, a Rox spokeswoman said: "Staff are badly shaken but thankfully no-one was hurt." His accomplice began smashing the glass cabinets with an axe and filling a rucksack with jewellery.
A third man was also charged in connection with the robbery. He pled not guilty and has been released from police custody. Jorgensen then grabbed Miss Afzal to go with him to another part of the store.
Det Insp Bobby Deas, who led the investigation said: "This was a terrifying ordeal for the staff at Rox to endure and resulted in a large quantity of valuable jewellery being stolen from the store. Mr Brown said: "The accused then placed the gun into her left side and pulled her forcefully by the arm into an area where cabinets containing the most expensive pieces of jewellery were displayed."
"Officers launched a robust investigation to trace the men involved and with the assistance and co-operation of our colleagues at Greater Manchester Police, we were able to ensure that both men were brought to justice." There he grabbed items including a £100,000 diamond collar and another jewel-encrusted bracelet.
Jorgenson and Boyd will be sentenced next month. Motorbike getaway
The stolen jewellery included diamond necklaces and engagements rings worth upwards of £100,000 each. Rox manager Katy Lawrence, who was in her office, heard the commotion and pressed a panic alarm.
Luxury watches from brands including Corum, Girard-Perregaux, and a Hublot watch worth £11,000, were also taken. Jorgensen and the other man fled into George Street, yelling and swearing at passers-by "get back".
They escaped from the scene on a black Honda 650 motorbike bike.
It was later found dumped at a car park in Edinburgh's Northumberland Street with its key still in the ignition.
The axe, two helmets and gloves were discovered nearby.
Jorgensen's DNA was later found on one of the gloves leading to him being detained on 23 January.
Police later got hold of CCTV footage of him being handed a large quantity of cash by three men at the San Carlo restaurant in Manchester before his arrest.
Boyd was charged in March.
The two men each admitted to a charge of assault and robbery, and will be sentenced next month.
Judge Lord Matthews said a lengthy jail-term was "obvious".
Jorgensen was previously jailed for robbery in 2007.
A third man, Aldair Warmington, 26, was also alleged to have been involved in the raid, but his not guilty pleas were accepted by prosecutors.
'Badly shaken'
The court heard that 77 items were taken from the Rox store, including 43 rings, 24 watches, three pairs of ear-rings, three necklaces and four bracelets.
The luxury watches were from brands including Corum, Girard-Perregaux, and a Hublot watch worth £11,000.
The total value was £726,866. None of it has been recovered.
The raiders also caused up to £10,000 of damage to the store.
Speaking at the time, a spokeswoman said: "Staff are badly shaken but thankfully no-one was hurt."
Following the raid, Rox spent £50,000 on upgrading security at its Edinburgh store.Following the raid, Rox spent £50,000 on upgrading security at its Edinburgh store.
It now has a full-time security guard and a "highly sophisticated" smoke cloud system that releases a heavy fog and reduces visibility when activated.It now has a full-time security guard and a "highly sophisticated" smoke cloud system that releases a heavy fog and reduces visibility when activated.
It is also operating a round-the-clock "lock door policy".It is also operating a round-the-clock "lock door policy".
Det Insp Bobby Deas, who led the investigation, said: "This was a terrifying ordeal for the staff at Rox to endure and resulted in a large quantity of valuable jewellery being stolen from the store.
"Officers launched a robust investigation to trace the men involved and with the assistance and co-operation of our colleagues at Greater Manchester Police, we were able to ensure that both men were brought to justice."