Two raiders on a moped tried to smash in the door of a Chelsea pawn shop owned by a reality TV star with a sledgehammer before they were engulfed in smoke from the store’s security system and confronted by local builders, witnesses said.
Dramatic footage on social media shows the pair pull up and start battering the door of Posh Pawn.
As they struggle to gain entry smoke billows out of the store on Draycott Avenue which specialises in luxury watches like Rolex and other luxury second hand items.
The shop is owned by James Constantinou who has a show about the pre loved market for valuables also called Posh Pawn on Channel 4.
The attempted robbery took place at around 5pm in front of shoppers and tourists on the busy pedestrianised street where there is also a Chanel shop and other luxury stores.
The would be thieves were wearing balaclavas and helmets for the foiled raid and sped off on their moped before dozens of police were scrambled to the scene.
No one was injured in the incident and police are on the hunt for the raiders.
Mr Constantinou, 58, who has starred in eight seasons of Posh Pawn in which his shop assesses the value of items brought in by members of the public, told Metro: ‘We have very effective security measures including Fog Bandit which releases smoke when the shop is under threat.
‘Our staff reacted brilliantly and I couldn’t have asked more of them.
‘There were customers in the shop but everyone was safe because among things there is a “vacuum” room after the main door which stops anyone we don’t want getting into the main shop.
‘This is the first time one of my shops has been raided but it happens regularly to others in London.
‘I think more needs to be done to deter these criminals.’
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A security guard working at a shop nearby told Metro the brazen attack was thwarted by the shop’s hi-tech gear.
He said: ‘The door was proper reinforced and the release of the smoke confused them and left then scrambling to get away. It was around 5pm, there were loads of people on the street.
‘They didn’t seem to care after the smoke came out some passers by and shop workers moved to chase them off. They didn’t look very professional thieves more like chancers.’
He added: ‘We have a lot of problems around here with crime, especially mobile phone thefts by lads on electric bikes, it’s terrible.’
A building worker said: ‘They were going at the door bashing it with like a sledge hammer.
‘Some of us went over to see if the staff were OK. It’s scary to think what could have happened. Luckily it seemed everybody was OK and the security measures did their job.’
The shop remained closed on Wednesday as staff cleared up the debris from the raid. No one was injured but staff were said to be ‘shaken’ by the incident.
Police are examining CCTV footage and social media images as part of the investigation.
Metro has contacted the Metropolitan Police for more information
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