Jewel thieves' $1 million haul

Jewel thieves' $1 million haul

By Greg Stolz

August 13, 2008 07:30pm

TOMAHAWK-wielding bandits who smashed their way into an exclusive Gold Coast jewellery boutique escaped with more than $1 million worth of designer jewels.

The two identically-dressed, balaclava-clad robbers struck high-profile Gold Coast jeweller John Calleija's store at upmarket Main Beach shopping centre Marina Mirage last night.

They used tomahawks to smash their way into the shop where they plundered some of its most expensive items, including gold and diamond necklaces, rings and bracelets, in what police said was one of Queensland's biggest jewellery heists.

Mr Calleija and female staff were trapped inside the store for more than an hour after the robbery by locked security doors. They were freed by firemen using pneumatic cutting equipment.

Senior-Sergeant Peter Gray, of Surfers Paradise CIB, said the staff were also menaced with a handgun in the highly professional robbery.

He said the robbers struck at the 'prime time' of 5.45pm as Mr Calleija and his staff were locking up and the shopping centre was undergoing major renovations.

They used tomahawks to smash the front door and glass display cases, and also robbed valuable jewels from the safe.

'They were only in there a matter of minutes. They knew exactly what they were looking for and had obviously 'cased' the premises prior to the robbery," Sen-Sgt Gray said.

"They've had a set plan and they were in and out with the jewellery. It was pretty dramatic for the staff - obviously they were in fear."

The robbers almost certainly had a ready market for the stolen jewels, Sen-Sgt Gray said.

"It's certainly up there with the biggest robberies we've had," he said.

The robbers fled on foot across a footbridge linking Marina Mirage to the Sheraton Mirage hotel before escaping in a stolen blue Subaru WRX which was last seen heading towards Southport.

Sen-Sgt Gray said the boutique's security camera system was recently upgraded and had captured excellent images of the offenders.

They are described as being aged in their mid-20s and were of athletic appearance. They were wearing balaclavas, ski gloves, blue 'hoodies' grey track pants with yellow stripes and white runners.

Sen-Sgt Gray appealed for anyone who may have seen the blue Subaru speeding out of Main Beach to contact police.