Six people on scooters stole thousands of pounds worth of jewellery during a daylight smash-and-grab raid in Temple Fortune.

The gang used a hammer to smash to smash a glass front door and threaten staff at D&M Cohen jeweller’s, in Temple Fortune Parade, in Finchley Road, at 10.30am yesterday.

Three of the raiders wearing motorcycle helmets entered the shop and stole a jewellery display in front of stunned onlookers walking along the busy high street.

Witnesses described seeing a panicked getaway as members of the gang dropped some of the jewellery and failed to get back on to the scooters.

Police arrested a 19-year-old man from the Brent and Camden area near the scene. He has since been charged with two counts of robbery.

The force says it has also managed to recover some of the jewellery.

Officers remained at the shop gathering evidence and witness statements for most of Thursday.

A nearby shopkeeper, who did not want to be named, said: “They turned up revving their engines quite menacingly and looking quite aggressive.

“There were at least a dozen people just standing around watching as they started smashing the shop. No-one quite knew what to do – I think someone started filming on their mobile phone.

“The gang didn’t seem bothered – they were quite happy to get on with what they were doing while people watched.”

The robbery is the second similar incident at the jeweller’s in recent years after two men smashed the front of the shop with a sledge hammer and grabbed rings and other jewellery in 2009.

Shopkeepers in the area say incidents such as Thursday’s robbery puts businesses on heightened alert.

One, who did not wish to be named, said: “The high street has to take precautions and in an affluent area like this it is always going to be a target.

“We have to be careful, be aware and make sure our shops are as secure as possible. These sort of things do make you worry but you just have to be aware – there is little you can do to stop it.

“No-one should be taking it into their own hands – you never know what people are capable of, as we’ve seen in Woolwich this week.”