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A gang of three men have pleaded guilty after a shocking daylight smash and grab robbery on a jewellers in an affluent area of London where hit show Ted Lasso is filmed.
Two masked men were caught on camera bashing in the window of Gregory & Co in leafy Richmond with a sledgehammer in January.
They plundered £225,000 worth of diamond and gold jewellery from the window before running towards Richmond Green as terrified tourists and locals look on.
The jewellers is just two doors down from the location of Richmond AFC’s manager’s flat on the Apple show which features a US coach managing a football league side in the UK.
The flat was also targeted by burglars round a year ago and locals have told Metro they fear the show has highlighted the wealthy neighbourhood and become a magnet for thieves.
Deniz Mehmet, 28, from Basildon pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob the family jewellers at Kingston Crown Court on Friday.
Robert Clarke, 50, from Rochford and Lee Ramsey, 46, of Harlow admitted the same offence at the same court on May 22.
All three have been remanded in custody to be sentenced on 24 July.
Eyewitness Amy Hilton, 26, told Metro of the mayhem after the breakfast time raid on the jewllers which is near Richmond Green where the likes of rock stars and business moguls from across the globe have set up home.
The 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, who lives locally told Metro the Ted Lasso filming had exposed the area around Richmond Green as a soft target for thieves.
She said: ‘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.’
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 carried out an extensive review of CCTV footage, alongside forensic analysis and the recovery of a vehicle believed to be linked to the robbery. From those clues they tracked down the gang who were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery.
According to Met figures neighbourhood crime dropped by 15.6 per cent in the last financial year that’s equivalent to more than 40,000 fewer offences.
Theft from person was down 21.4 per cent vehicle crime 13.9 per cent and personal robbery 13 per cent.