Police in Britain have released new images showing the result of a daring raid on a vault inside London’s jewelry district as the investigation continues into the robbery.
The heist, which occurred over the Easter weekend, may have netted thieves more than $350 million in stolen goods, after heavy cutting equipment and rappelling gear were used to access up to 70 safety deposit boxes at Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Ltd.
READ MORE: Thieves in London stage daring jewel heist, up to $370M stolen
Members of the Flying Squad -a special branch inside London’s Metropolitan Police service that investigates armed robberies – believe several thieves gained access to the vault by climbing down an elevator shaft. Police say the gang then drilled through a concrete wall and then forced open the safe deposit boxes.
Police said in a statement the floor of the vault was strewn with discarded safety deposit boxes and numerous power tools, including an angle grinder, concrete drills and crowbars.
There have been no arrests in connection with the investigation and forensic teams have collected more than 400 exhibits, including items for DNA profiling, fingerprints and other evidence.
“The hours of forensic work and inquiries have been vital in order to ensure we are able to exploit all investigative opportunities to their fullest extent and assist us in identifying those individuals responsible,” said Detective Superintendent Craig Turner, head of the Flying Squad, in a statement. “We appreciate that this situation has been frustrating for those affected by this crime and thank those individuals for their ongoing patience and support.”
Turner said owners of the boxes that were not opened are in the process of collecting them.
The robbery has put London’s police force on the defensive as the force admitted an alarm at the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit facility was triggered just after midnight on Friday, April 3, but no officers were sent to investigate. The crime was discovered when businesses reopened on Tuesday, April 7 following the holiday weekend.
Former head of Scotland Yard’s armed-robbery squad, John O’Connor, told the BBC that although the thieves appeared professional he called police “utterly incompetent” for not responding to the alarm call.
*With files from the Associated Press
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