Machete-wielding armed robbers raid luxury jewellery store at Gleneagles golf course
More than a dozen firearms officers scrambled to the Mappin & Webb boutique store in Auchterader
ARMED robbers wearing masks and wielding machetes have stolen high-end luxury goods from a jewellery store at the five-star Gleneagles Hotel resort and golf course.
More than a dozen firearms officers scrambled to the scene at the "prestigious" Mappin & Webb boutique store in Auchterader, Perthshire.
A nationwide alert has been raised for the car used in the robbery after the gang fled the main hotel building.
A Police Scotland source said: "Firearms officers have been sent to the scene from Perth and then some more were sent up from Stirling as well.
"From what I have heard there were a number of people wearing masks who entered the Mappin & Webb store within the hotel and stole a number of items.
"It has not been confirmed what they got away with, but it was clearly specifically targeted by a professional gang.
The source continued: "It must have been a terrifying experience for the staff. There are a lot of officers at the scene now and part of the hotel has been shut down while the investigation takes place.
"We have heard that there has been a report giving details of the car the gang used to make their getaway, so a large-scale search is underway for that.
"It is still early stages, but it certainly has all the hallmarks of a professional gang. It wouldn't surprise me if they had been casing the place for weeks or even months."
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Detectives were quizzing hotel staff and guests early this afternoon.
A Mappin & Webb store worker confirmed a robbery has taken place but would not say exactly what was taken.
Gleneagles is one of the world's leading golf resorts and guests pay around 400 pounds a night for a room, while suites can cost several thousand pounds.
The Mappin & Webb website says: "Mappin & Webb Gleneagles is one of our two prestigious boutiques and is located inside the luxurious five star resort of Gleneagles Hotel, a hotel renowned for its dedication to excellence and golf.
"Mappin & Webb offers a selection of premium fine jewellery and is home to the world's most prestigious Swiss watch brands including Rolex."
Mappin & Webb describes itself as an "upscale retailer offering luxury jewellery, designer watches, silver-plated cutlery and gifts." The store inside the hotel's public area is small, but carried stock worth several hundred thousand pounds.
It carries a selection of 10,000 pounds Rolex watches, and rings worth over 9,000 pounds, along with a white gold and diamond necklace on sale for 11,000 pounds.
Gleneagles and Mappin & Webb were unable to comment at time of publication.
A seven-man scooter gang were caught trying to rob the Mappin & Webb store at the Old Course in St Andrews in 2015.
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