£292k Jewels Snatched in Daring Sparkbrook Smash-and-Grab!
Stolen Toyota Hilux Rams Jewellery Shop
Armed gang smashed a stolen Toyota Hilux into Danyaal Jewellers in Sparkbrook on March 3 last year. They made off with jewellery worth a whopping £292,165.
Sledgehammers, Axes and Chaos
Three men wielding sledgehammers smashed into two display cabinets, stuffing bags with pricey loot. Meanwhile, a fourth man stayed behind the wheel, and a fifth threatened witnesses with an axe to keep onlookers at bay.
Caught on Camera and Phone Trail
Footage from Danyaal Jewellers’ CCTV showed the raid in full. Police identified the suspects as Trevor Leek (44), Justin Boylan (51), Arfan Latif (38), and Hassan Zulfiqar (26), hailing from Birmingham areas including Kingstanding, Shard End, and Balsall Heath.
Zulfiqar was seen heading to an auto-parts shop just before the raid. Authorities linked all five men through exhaustive phone checks, connecting them to the vehicles used and the crime itself.
Legal Proceedings Underway
One thief had already admitted to stealing the Hilux and related offences. Leek was cleared of an extra charge involving other stolen cars used to scout the scene. The gang face sentencing next month, with police vowing this will serve as a firm warning to criminals planning similar heists.
