Police cordon off part of Winchester city centre after armed robbery at jewellers

Dozens of officers swooped on Winchester and closed off a huge section of the city centre after the armed robbery.

A number of raiders targeted Justice on Parchment Street and police say they made off with “a quantity of cash” before three men were arrested.

The trio are currently helping police with their investigation into the incident, which happened at about 9am.

Hampshire Police say that two men wearing motorbike helmets walked into Justice with an imitation gun while a third man was seen with a van outside.

As crowds gathered to find out what the drama was they were shouted to get back as police rapidly extended the cordon backwards to protect the public.

At least ten police vehicles and other unmarked police cars were parked around Parchment Street and on St George’s Street.

Drama centred around the loading bay on St George’s Street used by a number of nearby businesses.

There was intense activity for around an hour until a man was seen being brought out from the loading area and into the back of a police van.

The robbery happened at Justice Jewellers in Parchment Street this morning and police were on the scene by around 9.20am.

Detective Inspector Lee Macarthur said: “This happened in the middle of the busy city centre at a time when there were a lot of people around.

“We have spoken to many witnesses from the scene but we know there are more and we would like these people to come forward as they may have information which can assist our investigation.

“We particularly want to speak to two witnesses who saw the two men run from the shop and into the alleyway at the time of the incident as their accounts will be a valuable line of enquiry.

“I want to reassure the public that this incident was dealt with quickly by specialist officers who were on the scene within minutes.”

Two 21-year-old men from Hertfordshire and a 28-year-old man from London were arrested on suspicion of robbery.

Cordons have since been relaxed but there remains a cordon in the immediate area and a number of police cars on the road and police dogs are still being used.

One lane of the one-way system remains closed but traffic is flowing.

An eyewitness who was walking along St George’s Street said he saw two robbers come out of the jewellers in Parchment Street; he described them as wearing black helmets.

He said they tried to get into a van parked on the road, but the van was blocked off by police officers who rushed to the scene.

He said he could see the robbers run towards the loading bay outside McDonald’s in St George’s Street.

Barry Hede, 44, from Winchester said: “The robbers came out running out of the shop and were wearing black helmets.”

“Police managed to get the driver but the other two ran down St George’s Street towards McDonalds loading bay where they have been for 45 minutes.”

He said the robbers were dropping money as they were running.

Co-owner of Candle Co in Parchment Street Catherine O’Brien said she was told the white getaway van’s escape was foiled accidently by a delivery van parked outside the shop and a bin van further down the road blocking it off, before officers closed in.

A Winchester mum who was in her car with her one-year-old daughter was caught in the cordon.

The woman who asked not be named said she saw a black male with his face covered by a bandana being arrested close to the Toy Cupboard shop.

The Daily Echo saw one man being arrested and put in a police van close to McDonald’s in St George’s Street.

Another eyewitness Steven Lucy who was walking near Parchment Street, said he could see another man being arrested.

Mr Lucy, said: “I could see one of the robbers being handcuffed on the floor, police were asking if he was okay as they took him down quite hard.”

Mark Stokes, 53, who owns Winchester Photographic, further down St George’s Street, said: “Some people were saying it was Parchment Street and the jewellers and other people were saying the post office.

“There was a couple standing there who said they saw somebody go into the post office with a pistol.

“I saw a police officer with a baton and some body armour running towards McDonald’s yard.

“Within seconds of him running to it I then advanced to the yard – at that point there wasn’t a police presence other than two officers standing there legs apart , taser out ready to shoot but of course they would be shooting someone they can't see - I learned he was hiding behind a barrel.

"It was taser rather than armed response. They were silent."

He said he did not see the taser fired, then as he walked away numerous police turned up.

Stephen McManus, 30, of Winchester, said: “It’s crazy isn’t it – I’ve never seen anything like it.

“One of the officers said he’s just come from 40 miles away.”

John Elkins, 35, of The Valley, Stanmore, Winchester, said: “I saw a lot of police cars just bombing up here.

“I just noticed dogs going in there and outside police blocking everything off.

“I thought what’s going on – I knew it was something important otherwise it wouldn’t be that many cars.

“I have never seen this many – never.”

Some residents feared it could even be a terrorist attack unfolding before them.

Nicola Prince, 20, of central Winchester, told how she saw police with large guns.

“It was absolutely terrifying,” she said.

“We saw dogs and armed police officers.

“I saw the police cars going, I thought it was a shoplifter and obviously once there’s lots of police cars and police lines and what you’re hearing you know it’s more serious – I heard armed robbery from the crowd.

“At least the police were here quickly, it’s always a good sign.

“You hear it’s happening in the world, it’s only a matter of time before it hits Winchester or the UK.”

Pat Prince, 60 of Winchester, said: “Down there they were saying there’s a man running around with a gun.

“With what’s happening in the world you think the worst.

“I heard from the crowd that one was still in there and one was on the loose.

“You wouldn’t think this would happen in Winchester, you wouldn’t think it would happen in your home town.”