‘Burka’ jewellery heist gang suspects to appear in court in Burnley

Rais Atcha (20), of Burwell Close, Fahim Kola (19), of Willows Lane, Mohammed Asif Khan (26), of Mancroft Avenue, and Baber Khan (25), of Jasmine Court, all from Bolton, will appear at Burnley Crown Court after being charged with conspiracy to rob.

The charges relate to an armed robbery at Muzzafer’s Jewellers, in Brougham Street, Burnley, on Saturday, February 19th. A person dressed in traditional Asian female clothing including a burka approached the buzzer-operated entrance before three men wearing balaclavas, one of whom was armed with a firearm, were then ushered into the premises.

They smashed the display cabinets before making off with over £30,000 of traditional Asian jewellery.

On May 27th, three men wearing balaclavas burst into a house in Fairfield Drive, Burnley and threatened and assaulted the two residents – a 74-year-old man and 63-year-old woman – with a firearm and an axe before making off with about £3,000 in cash and jewellery.

Several days earlier, on May 24th, three men in balaclavas forced their way into an address in Ellesmere Road, Bolton, and threatened the occupants – an 85-year-old man and 77-year-old woman – with an axe and a hammer.

The man was tied up and his wife threatened with the axe before £1,000 of cash and jewellery was stolen.

All four have been remanded to appear at Burnley Crown Court for a plea and directions hearing.