UK Police Arrest Nine Over Hatton Garden Raid

(IDEX Online News) – Detectives in the UK, backed by 200 officers, have arrested nine people at 12 addresses in London and Kent in connection with the audacious heist of a safety deposit box vault in London’s Hatton Garden jewelry district.

Police said that the nine men, who were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to burgle, were between 48 and 76-years-old. They also said that “high value” property was recovered following the raids. “All...[the] men have been taken to a London police station. Searches at the addresses are ongoing,” according to reports in The Guardian.

According to media reports, the authorities could not say with absolute certainty that all of the property was from the Hatton Garden raid. However, a statement from the police reported by The Daily Telegraph said that, “A number of large bags containing significant amounts of high value property have been recovered from one address. Officers are confident these are items stolen during the burglary.”

The heist occurred over the Easter weekend at the beginning of April. The gang drilled through a two-meter thick concrete wall and an 18-inch thick steel door to gain access to 72 secure boxes believed to contain millions of pounds’ worth of cash, jewels and other valuables.

The gang left their tools behind, including drills, crowbars and angle grinders used to force the boxes open. Officers have also been investigating why fewer than 10 percent of the available boxes were opened.

“Over the last six weeks Scotland Yard’s Flying Squad has worked relentlessly, supported by officers from covert policing and major crime commands, to track down those responsible, and recover what was taken,” reported The Guardian.

“An intense investigation has been undertaken to ensure the victims, the individual box-owners, the small businesses and the wider Hatton Garden community can get justice,” the police spokesman added.