May 17, 2010 5.12 pm This story is over 166 months old

CCTV: How the diamond heist happened

Caught on camera: CCTV footage showing the two men robbing James Usher & Son Jewellers on Saturday.

Lincolnshire Police have released CCTV footage of the robbery at the James Usher & Son Jewellers, which took place on Saturday, May 15th. The video shows the two men who where acting as police forensic staff, donning white hooded boiler suits with dust masks covering their faces.

In the CCTV footage (embedded below), the two robbers entered the jewellery shop, one remaining at the door, and the other one threatening the store assistant with a hammer, and putting valuables in a bag. The two men then quickly run out of the shop, with the assistant following them to the door. About £80,000 worth of jewels were stolen from James Usher & Son Jewellers.

After leaving the store with the valuables, the thieves fled in a green Vauxhall Astra, registration number P56 WCN. This vehicle, which was driven by a third accomplice, was later found abandoned and on fire near Lindum Terrace. It is believed that the three men ran through the Arboretum, and then onto Arboretum Avenue, were they drove away in a waiting white Transit-type van.

Police are also looking for a fourth man, who left the jewellers minutes before the robbery took place, according to The Lincolnshire Echo. He is a white man, in his early 20s, around 6ft tall, with short dark hair. He wore a green T-shirt and some cut-off three quarter length shorts, and reportedly asked the staff at James Usher & Son Jewellers if they were interested in buying any gold.

If you have any information regarding this robbery, contact Detective Sergeant Paul Myers or Detective constable Di Squires of Lincoln CID on 0300 11 0300.

Source: Lincolnshire Police | Photo collage: Daniel Ionescu | Related reports: Lincolnshire Echo, BBC