Land Rover hunt over armed raid

A woman inside the jewellers was threatened by a gunman but not hurt Enlarge Image

Police investigating a gun raid on a jewellery shop on the Isle of Wight are trying to trace a Land Rover.

Two masked men escaped with 15 watches from the Benzie yachting jewellery shop in High Street, Cowes, on Friday, after threatening a female member of staff.

The robbers left in a stolen Land Rover Freelander later found abandoned, but police want to trace another Freelander seen in the area on the same day.

Officers have been given more time to question two people held over the raid.

The man, 21, and woman, 23, were held in West Sussex on Monday and transferred into the custody of police on the Isle of Wight.

Det Insp Nick Heelan, of Isle of Wight CID, said: "This second Freelander is not linked to the robbery or any suspects, but detectives need to identify the vehicle and its owner to exclude both from enquiries.

No shots were fired during the raid but the men fled with 15 watches

"There are more than 100 Land Rover Freelander owners registered on the island, and I would ask any who were driving in Cowes last Friday to contact police as soon as possible."

CCTV footage of the raid was later released by police and they appealed for any information about the gang.

During the raid, the robbers used sledgehammers to break the shop front window to access jewellery from the street.

They threatened the worker with a gun, which police say may have been a replica, as she stood in the doorway. No shots were fired.