Smash and grab thieves wielding hammers have escaped with thousands of pounds worth of fur coats after targeting a shop in St John’s Wood.

The crooks struck at John Kay Fur in Circus Road, by forcing the security shutters and smashing their way through the front door in the early hours of Monday morning.

Mark Blackburn, a local resident, told the Wood & Vale these types of shops were a magnet for thieves.

He said: “Almost certainly this was for theft of fur coats. There are frequent thefts from these shops that sell high value items, with thieves regularly driving into door and smashing them in with hammers. Local traders are really fed up.”

A police spokesman said an investigation was underway following the thefts.

Witnesses or anyone with information about this incident should call Westminster CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.