EPPING: Family terrorised in hour-long armed raid

12:42pm Tuesday 4th November 2008

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POLICE are appealing for information after a armed robbery in which a terrified family were bound and gagged while thieves ransacked their home.

Three men smashed their way through the rear door of a property in Coopersale Street, Epping, tying up the occupants of the house before making off with a six-figure sum of jewellery.

Their hour long ordeal began shortly before 9pm on October 23, when three men used a sledgehammer to gain access to the house.

One of the men was armed with a knife and threatened the family demanding money and jewellery, before tying them up and searching each room in the house.

They eventually made off with a six-figure sum of highly individual bespoke Jewellery.

The family freed themselves shortly after the men had left and raised the alarm.

DC Lisa Cooper of Epping CID said the family were left understandably "very shaken" by the incident.

She said: “This was a frightening incident that left the family unharmed but badly shaken, the thieves took watches and a substantial amount of unique hand-made jewellery that was of great sentimental value to the family.

“We want to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Coopersale Street area between about 8.45pm and 10pm. We would also urge anyone with information about the watches and jewellery to come forward.”

The thieves were described as three black males aged between 18 and their early 20s. One was wearing a dark grey top, blue jeans and black Nike trainers. A second man was wearing a black hooded jacket and the third man had a thin moustache and was wearing a black hooded jacket.

Anyone with information should contact Det Cons Cooper at Epping CID on 0300 333 4444.