A man has been jailed over a high-value jewellery heist in Nottingham.
Officers were called to Cope Jewellers, on Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham, shortly after 1.45 pm on Tuesday, 3 September, after two people entered the store wearing motorcycle helmets and gloves.
Glass display cabinets were smashed with a lump hammer before more than £160,000 worth of Rolex, Tudor, and Oris watches were stolen.
Nottingham Crown Court heard that an elderly customer was shopping at the time and was pushed by one of the robbers as he attempted to flee the store.
The owner of the business was also present and was forced back while the raid was carried out.
A jewellery stall on High Street, Long Eaton, was also targeted approximately 15 minutes earlier, but the robbers left empty-handed after being fought off by the stall owner.
A police investigation found the incidents were linked, with the suspects riding away on a black motorcycle with distinctive blue forks.
Three days later, Nottinghamshire Police received information that 29-year-old Luke Boden was involved in the Cope Jewellers robbery and that the motorcycle had been abandoned in bushes near City Hospital.
Detectives recovered the bike, and analysis confirmed it was the same one used in both the Long Eaton and Nottingham incidents.
The investigation team then began reviewing CCTV near Boden’s home, with footage capturing him with the bike on the day of the robbery and attempted robbery. He was also wearing clothes that matched those seen on CCTV recordings of the two crimes.
Further damning evidence against Boden was secured when police found a £6,000 Audi A3 parked outside his address, which was purchased after the robbery.
A warrant was executed at his home on 8 September, with officers seizing a large quantity of cash along with clothes and two yellow JD Sports bags – similar to the one held by one of the offenders during the two incidents.
Detectives also established that he’d spent just over £400 in JD Sports four days after the robbery, despite seemingly being unemployed.
Boden, of New Basford, was arrested and provided a ‘no comment’ interview, in which he also failed to provide any alibi for his whereabouts when the offences were committed.
He was subsequently charged in relation to both incidents.
On 14 October, he pleaded guilty to robbery, attempted robbery, and driving whilst disqualified.
At his sentencing hearing today, Nottingham Crown Court heard Boden stood at the door of Cope Jewellers while his accomplice smashed glass cabinets and placed high-value watches into a bag.
Twenty-five watches were stolen in total. They had a combined cost value of £131,905 and a retail value of more than £160,000.
In a victim impact statement, the store’s owner said the robbery had pushed up the shop’s insurance premiums and that he would need to invest up to £25,000 in security upgrades.
He added: “The incident itself was extremely distressing and nothing compared to this has ever occurred in my store before.
“Witnessing two men, dressed in black and wearing motorcycle gear, as they barricaded the door and smashed the display cabinets with a hammer was traumatising, and I will never forget it.”
The court heard that work to trace the second offender remains ongoing.
Jailing Boden for seven years, Recorder Crooknorth said he’d been an “active participant” in both incidents and that the robbery had caused the owner both “financial and emotional distress.”
Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Chris Berryman, who oversaw the investigation, said:
“These two incidents have left a lasting impact on all of those involved, and I am pleased Boden has been swiftly brought to justice.
“The sentence imposed today sends a strong message that these kinds of offences are incredibly serious and will never be tolerated.
“Business owners should not face threats or violence while trying to earn a living, and it is equally shocking that an elderly customer was pushed during the robbery at Cope Jewellers.
“I do not underestimate the fear they all felt, and I hope today’s sentence brings them a degree of comfort.
“I would like to reassure them and members of the public that this remains an ongoing investigation and that we are steadfast in our efforts to identify and locate the second offender.
“We will always do everything we can to bring the offenders to justice, and I would ask anyone who has information that could help us locate the second person to come forward so action can be taken.”
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