"There was lots of screaming.”
Brazen ram-raiders smashed a car into a pawnbrokers on Birmingham’s Soho Road and made off with jewellery at lunchtime on April 15, 2026.
The gang drove a Peugeot 207 into the glass frontage of H&T Pawnbrokers on the busy street in Handsworth at around 12:30 pm, as stunned shoppers looked on.
Footage showed the back of the car in the shop front while hooded individuals moved back and forth between the pawnbroker and the vehicle.
The raiders appeared to pile jewellery from the store into the car. Smoke began pouring from the premises within seconds as the car made off with its boot slightly open.
Police, fire and ambulance crews rushed to the scene and the area was sealed off. Buses were diverted as Soho Road was closed following the incident.
A shop owner claimed several people were involved in the raid:
“People managed to detain a man but the police didn’t arrive for 15 minutes. I think there were arrests.”
On whether he was scared, he added: “We’re fine but it’s not good for business.”
Another shopkeeper said: “I heard ‘oi, oi, oi’, and looked out my window and saw all this. There was lots of screaming.”
Staff at Harveen’s Collection, next door to H&T Pawnbrokers, stayed inside during the incident. They said they “didn’t see anything” because they were “scared”.
Soho Road BID said: “Please be advised that, following an incident, police and emergency services have closed Soho Road from the Grove Lane junction to the Boulton Road junction until further notice.
“Traffic is currently being diverted, and we strongly advise all traders, staff, customers, and suppliers to avoid this section of Soho Road for the time being.
“Please allow extra time for travel and consider alternative routes where possible.
“We will notify you as soon as this section of Soho Road reopens. Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this incident.”
It was reported that the road was later reopened.
In a statement, West Midlands Police said: “An investigation has been launched after a jewellery shop was robbed in Handsworth this afternoon.
“We were called to Soho Road just before 12:30 pm after a car smashed through the window of the jewellers.”
“A large amount of jewellery was stolen before the offenders fled the area. We would appeal to anyone who witnessed the robbery who has not yet spoken to us to get in touch.
“If you were in the area at the time and have dash-cam that may have captured the incident, please call 101 quoting log 2277 of April 15.”
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