London jewellery stores hit

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Police have begun an investigation after burglars staged a double heist at two of London's most upmarket jewellery shops, getting away with jewels estimated to be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Thieves smashed windows at the De Beers diamond store and an outlet of Omega, the Swiss watch firm, at the exclusive Royal Exchange shopping centre in the City.

Police were yesterday trying to establish exactly what was taken and its value. Officers said the robbers arrived in a car and forced their way in.