Detectives are chasing a lone burglar who orchestrated a 19-minute heist at a mansion on London’s Billionaire’s Row, stealing over £10 million in bespoke jewellery and luxury items.
The thief entered the 13-bedroom mansion on Avenue Road, St John’s Wood, through a second-floor window on December 7. He cracked a safe and looted valuables, marking this heist as one of the UK’s largest residential thefts.
Security footage shows his entry at 5:11 PM. He searched the second-floor rooms for five minutes before descending to the first floor to seize high-value items. He escaped through the same window at 5:30 PM.
The suspect, a white male in his late 20s or 30s with a medium build, wore a dark hoodie, cargo pants, and a grey baseball cap. He carried a potential weapon, possibly a flamethrower or noxious spray, and narrowly missed a maid.
At the time, about eight people were inside the 22,000 sq ft mansion, including family members and staff.
Police and private investigators are intensively searching for the masked burglar, cautioning that the stolen jewellery is distinctive and recognizable. They encourage anyone who sees the items or related information to contact the police or Crimestoppers anonymously.
DC Paulo Roberts, leading the investigation, described the crime as “brazen” and a severe violation of privacy. “The stolen items are valuable and unique, making them easily identifiable,” he noted.
Roberts urged, “Anyone near Avenue Road, NW8, who noticed anything unusual should come forward. If you’ve seen the jewellery recently, or someone has offered it for sale, don’t hesitate to contact the police or Crimestoppers.”
