Stunned shoppers film raid in Glasgow's Argyll Arcade Published duration 24 September 2014

media caption Stream

Four masked men armed with hammers have staged a daylight raid on several jewellers in Glasgow's Argyll Arcade.

The men burst into the arcade, between Argyle Street and Buchanan Street, at about 12:45.

They stole some watches from Rox and failed in bids to rob Mappin and Webb, Laing the Jeweller and Lewis Grant.

A security guard is said to have hurt his leg during the raid, which was photographed and recorded on mobile phones by stunned shoppers.

The raiders escaped down a lane off Buchanan Street. It is thought they used a white Volkswagen Golf, which was later recovered in Townhead.

In the mobile phone footage, the men can be seen running through the arcade and attempting to smash shop windows.

The centre also filled with smoke as an alarm on one shop was triggered.

image caption The raiders attempted to smash the window at Mappin and Webb jewellers

image copyright Liam Dargie image caption The masked raiders fled via the Buchanan Street entrance past stunned shoppers

image caption Police are at the scene and interviewing witnesses

The men entered the arcade from Argyle Street and exited on Buchanan Street, where footage shows them running down a lane.

It is understood that a security guard was knocked over during the robbery and injured his leg.

Police said the four suspects are described as 5ft 8in tall and of slim build. All were wearing dark clothing.

It is believed that they made off in a white hatchback vehicle.

A white Volkswagen Golf was recovered in St James Road, in the city's Townhead area, and inquiries are ongoing to establish if it is the vehicle involved.

Officers are speaking to witnesses and gathering CCTV images to establish more details on the four men responsible.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

image caption A white Volkswagen Golf was later recovered in nearby Townhead