New CCTV footage obtained exclusively by BBC News shows how a thief stole more than £10million worth of jewelery and designer handbags from a London mansion.
Pictures show a masked man stuffing a handful of jewelery into a bag after breaking into the multi-million pound property.
A spokesman for the family, who was inside the home at the time of the burglary, said the intruder moved “like a cat” but appeared to have been almost thwarted when his escape route was blocked.
The stolen goods belonged to Hong Kong socialite Shafira Huang, who was not at St John’s Wood House at the time, and A prize of up to £1.5m is offered. As the search for the thief continues.
Sisba Virag, a spokesman for Miss Huang’s family, said the thief had initially tried to enter through a second-floor window at around 17:00 GMT on December 7.
Marks that look like they were made with a screwdriver or crowbar.
When that didn’t work, the intruder then climbed onto the roof, where he would have seen two housekeepers leave the grounds, before throwing himself into a large concrete drain and through a bathroom window. Enter the house, which was also on the second floor.
Mr Virag said the bathroom belonged to a live-in governess, with whom he was meeting in the basement of the five-storey property when the burglary took place.
“She would have been in that room and there would have been a collision, which is pretty scary.”
Mr Virag said the intruder had to climb through a window onto a sink, but moved “like a cat” so as not to leave a mark or disturb the cosmetic products. Around £300 in cash was left on a table in the room.
A family spokesman said he heard a loud noise during the visit but put it down to the strong winds outside.
“Historically, I can put two and two together, which at the time you don’t really think about,” he said.
Mr Virag said he believed the draft created by the noisemaker when he opened the window may have been a staff entrance firecracker, and that the thief closed the window quickly to let him go. .
The intruder was then caught on CCTV cameras walking around the house, looking at expensive jewelery before putting the items in her bag. was struggling to open the contained case.
A time stamp on a CCTV image released by the family shows he narrowly avoided bumping into the maid as they passed seconds apart in the same hallway.
Asked if the burglar left the house the same way he came in, Mr Virag said he did, but added “I’m sure that wasn’t his intention”.
Mr Virag said the burglar entered a “high-risk” part of the house and appeared to have tried to leave through a rarely used guest room at the rear of the property.
He continued: “[He] Tried to open the window from the inside but we have security on the sash window.
“The stoppers only allow you to pull it down 8cm and if you don’t have the right tool to open the pins, you can’t do it. He tried but couldn’t.”
As well as jewellery, an Hermès crocodile Kelly handbag and £15,000 in cash were also taken.
Family handoutThe robber, who police believe may be armed, is believed to be a white man in his late 20s to 30s.
Detcon Paulo Roberts, of the Metropolitan Police, said: “We are appealing to anyone who was in the area of Avenue Road, NW8, and saw anything suspicious to please come forward”.
“Also, if you have seen the jewelery since then, someone has offered to sell it to you, or you have any further information, please contact the police or Crimestoppers anonymously as well. “
A reward of £500,00 has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a second reward of 10% of the value of any recovered items has been offered to homeowners for information leading to the recovery of the stolen jewelery – up to £1.5m. may be
The burglary took place on Avenue Road, which connects the capital’s Swiss Cottage and Regent’s Park areas and is home to some of the city’s most expensive properties.
Ms Huang, who lives in a mansion with her property developer husband, was a popular social media user but has since made her profiles private.
Metropolitan Police