Three men have pleaded guilty to a daylight smash-and-grab robbery at a jewellers in Richmond, an affluent area of London where the hit show Ted Lasso is filmed. The gang used a sledgehammer to smash the window of Gregory & Co on 27 January, stealing £225,000 worth of diamond and gold jewellery.
Details of the raid
Two masked men were captured on CCTV bashing in the window of the family-run jewellers, located just two doors down from the flat used as the manager's residence in the Apple TV series. The robbery occurred during breakfast time, with terrified tourists and locals looking on as the thieves fled towards Richmond Green.
Deniz Mehmet, 28, from Basildon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob at Kingston Crown Court on 3 July. Robert Clarke, 50, from Rochford, and Lee Ramsey, 46, from Harlow, admitted the same offence at the same court on 22 May. All three have been remanded in custody and are due to be sentenced on 24 July.
Local concerns about Ted Lasso effect
Residents have expressed fears that the popularity of Ted Lasso has made the neighbourhood a magnet for criminals. Eyewitness Amy Hilton, 26, an airline worker, said: 'I was in the cafe nearby. I heard a thumping and then looked over and two men were bashing in the window. It was very shocking there were people out and about and everyone was scared. The locals have been saying it could be the Ted Lasso series that has made the area more of a target. It was really scary.'
Karen Lewis, 65, a local resident, told Metro: 'The filming has brought unwanted attention to the area. There are more burglaries around the green with thieves knowing the houses are empty. Sometimes people live abroad some of the year. On the day of the robbery I could have been going past and caught up in it. It's all very frightening.'
Tony Puci, who lives near the jewellers, said: 'The Ted Lasso thing has definitely attracted more criminals it's a magnet for thieves. Around a year ago someone tried to burgle Ted Lasso's flat. I saw the raid on the jewellers it was in the morning and so shocking. I saw a bloke with a sledgehammer bashing the window. It was all over in under a minute.'
Police investigation and response
Detective Superintendent Dan Mitchell from the Flying Squad, which specialises in catching robbers, led the inquiry. He said after the convictions: 'Robberies of this kind cause real concern for residents and businesses in the communities that are targeted. It's they who feel the immediate impact. These guilty pleas mark a significant step in what has been a detailed and determined investigation. I hope they demonstrate our commitment to tackling smash-and-grab robberies in London by going after those involved, wherever they are. The groups responsible should be under no illusion – we will pursue you relentlessly and hold you to account.'
Specialist officers conducted an extensive review of CCTV footage, forensic analysis, and recovered a vehicle believed to be linked to the robbery. From these clues, they tracked down the gang, who were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery.
Crime statistics
According to Metropolitan Police figures, neighbourhood crime in London dropped by 15.6% in the last financial year, equivalent to more than 40,000 fewer offences. Theft from person was down 21.4%, vehicle crime fell 13.9%, and personal robbery decreased by 13%.
