Chanel smash-and-grab raiders foiled

A suspected robber was injured as undercover police swooped on smash-and-grab raiders as they tried to break into a Chanel store in Mayfair.

In dramatic scenes, an unmarked police car rammed one of the gang's high-powered motorcycles as they tried to flee.

One of the suspects, a 23-year-old man, suffered a broken leg as his machine was hit by the car and forced off the road. A second man, aged 21, believed to be riding pillion, was not injured and was arrested.

Officers from the Westminster Crime Squad were believed to be lying in wait for the gang last night.

They pounced as six men on three stolen motorcycles arrived at the Chanel store in Old Bond Street.

A security guard helped foil the raid and officers moved in. They cornered one of the bikes but the remaining two escaped. Nothing was taken in the raid.

Scotland Yard said it had referred the drama to the force's internal investigation unit because of the injury to the suspect. A spokesman said that officers "became aware" of an attempted burglary at about 11.15pm. "Six suspects, all wearing crash helmets, on three high-powered motorbikes were trying to break into the premises. One remains in hospital."

The arrests came after smash-and-grab raiders plagued West End stores in recent months. Detectives have struggled to arrest the gangs because they strike so quickly and the dangers of chasing suspects through the streets. There have been more than 20 attacks in Westminster so far this year and some shops have been targeted several times.

In May, four men on stolen scooters smashed their way into Dolce & Gabbana's New Bond Street store and fled with a haul of handbags. Six men on mopeds also stole £50,000 of goods from the Larizia designer bag shop in St John's Wood - the seventh time it had been raided.