Ten thugs on five mopeds launched a mass raid on the Apple store in Regent Street early today snatching thousands of pounds worth of laptops and iPads.

The gang struck in the early hours driving a high powered scooter through the glass front doors of the store before storming inside.

Two security guards tried to intervene but there were threatened with hammers by the gang who were inside the premises for less than three minutes.

Police said they were first called at 12.42 am to reports of a robbery in Regent Street.

Witnesses said the gang posted look-outs outside as several of the group ran inside and snatched items on display stands before escaping on waiting mopeds.

Early today forensic experts were examining the scooter left abandoned inside the glass doors of the store.

Detectives are examining CCTV images of the incident and appealed for witnesses today. 

The raid comes as police are battling an epidemic of moped related thefts and raids across London.

This morning there was no sign of the raid and the store was open as usual.

One customer Hajra Ali, 37, from Ilford, said: “Moped attacks have got really, really bad and I’m not surprised this happened. I don’t know what the Met is doing about it. 

“There have been loads of moped attacks in my area, they even use them for house break ins. They break into the front door, one goes inside to grab what they want and then they get out. There are always two of them on each moped.

“There have been lots of acid attacks too, I’ve heard really scary stories in our area.”

Police said Apple phones, tablets and watches were taken in the raid. Two iPhone Xs were later recovered near Kings Cross.

Source: standard