21 Aug 2009

Pair charged over London jewel heist

8:06 pm on 21 August 2009

Two men have been charged in connection with a Stg 40 million armed robbery at a central London jewellery store.

Craig Calderwood, 26, and Solomun Beyene, 24, are accused of "conspiring with others" to rob Graff jewellers in New Bond Street, Scotland Yard said.

Mr Calderwood, of no fixed abode, and Mr Beyene, of north London, have also been charged with a firearms offence in connection with the raid on 6 August, the BBC reports.

Forty-three pieces, including rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings and watches, were stolen in what was the biggest ever jewellery raid in the United Kingdom.

Insurers put up a Stg1 million reward in an effort to find those responsible.

A third man arrested in connection with the robbery remains in police custody.

Last week a 50-year-old man was arrested in east London by police investigating the raid. He was released on bail pending further inquiries.