Armed thieves storm the Apple Store and then run away with iPhones, iPads and Macbooks

A group of men are being hunted after they allegedly carried out an armed robbery in daylight at an Apple store in central London.

Shoppers were heard screaming after the gang of security guards “pushed their way” past the tech giant’s Covent Garden branch.

Witnesses described how about ten men wearing balaclavas took tablets, phones and laptops out of the store before forcing customers to give up their own phones.

A bystander said he saw a “fight” with the men “snatching” belongings from shoppers.

A number of people who called 999 reported seeing guns in the hands of some of the men, detectives said.

Footage filmed from an upstairs window of the store shows men sprinting away from the store in different directions.

One appeared to be wearing motorcycle helmets and was dressed in cycling gear.

A private security guard tried to grab him before he narrowly slipped and ran away.

Two others, wearing dark clothing over their heads, were seen fleeing with tote bags in hand.

One of the people running in the footage is believed to have been a member of the public who gave chase.

There are said to have been no injuries among the buyers or employees.

A witness said the horrific incident happened within a minute.

“At least ‘ten men’ “pushed through the entrance past security and started grabbing everything they could,” he told The Sun.

After clearing the products from the display tables, they “started taking things out of people’s hands,” the shopper continued.

He added: “It was pretty scary. There were a few screams. It’s a Sunday and a sunny day in Covent Garden so obviously it was busy.’

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “At around 1.10pm on Sunday 17 July, police received several calls reporting that a group of men had broken into a shop in the Piazza in Covent Garden.

“Some of the group are said to have carried weapons.

“It is alleged that they stole a number of items before fleeing the area in various directions.”

Witnesses were told to call 101 quoting the reference number 3815/17JU or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A spokesman for Apple said the company supports the Met’s investigation and thanked its employees.