Delighted detectives have told how the amazing CCTV footage “blows the case wide open” as they track down the Hatton Garden gems gang.
An insider said: “They know someone out there will recognize them from this.
"And needless to say the police will be going through every underworld source they have.”
Breaking their silence for the first time since the video emerged on Friday night, a source close to the investigation revealed that a forensic examination of the images will help to quickly piece together key clues.
Everything from clothing to facial features will come under scrutiny, along with the gang’s white getaway van and their distinctive tools.
In a day of developments we can also reveal how:
- The gems could have been stolen to order by a foreign Mr Big
- Cops have spoken to underworld informants who they feel know the suspects
- The jewellery industry itself holds the key to solving the case
- Police are still probing a burglary two years ago at the home of a director of the safety deposit company.
Among the clues from the clothing is ‘GAS’ emblazoned on the back of a high visibility jacket worn by one of the gang – dubbed The Gent as he is wearing smart city shoes.
The jacket raises suspicions the men may have deliberately started the Holborn fire little more than 500 yards from the vault, causing chaos.
Former Flying Squad cop John O’Connor has said he believes the blaze was part of the heist, although the London Fire Brigade do not currently believe it was started deliberately.
And an “aggravated burglary” at the North London home of Manish Bavishi, a director of the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit company, is likely to be re-examined.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the 2013 incident was still being investigated.
Mr Bavishi is said to still be on holiday in Sudan and is not answering calls.
But a neighbour in Kenton told us: “This might be a coincidence but it seems very odd.”
Traders in Hatton Garden were keenly viewing the CCTV in the most important development yet since the Easter weekend heist.
One jeweller in his 40s told us: “I think it is only a matter of time before all the little details in the footage catch up with these guys.
“One guy’s hair. One guy’s trainers. Somebody else’s this, that and the other. The jackets – the gear is new.
“You’ve got six guys. They’re all on CCTV. You’ve got a van, and a moped coming and going.
“Someone is going to talk and that person will talk to someone else.
“There were six of them in there but I can’t imagine they are the only six to know. People blab.”
Detectives are convinced the stolen haul will already have been smuggled out of Britain – and may have been stolen to order by foreign criminals.
The lead officer on the case, detective chief inspector Paul Johnson, said the Mirror footage would “continue to be evaluated to capture precise movements of the suspects.”
DCI Johnson said the images showed the suspects using a side door to make their way to and from the premises.
He said: “They were highly audacious entering on two occasions over that weekend, firstly on Thursday April 2 at 20.19 before leaving the following morning at 08.12.
“They then returned over a day later on Saturday, April 4 at approx 22.17 before leaving the following morning at approximately 06.44.”
Police appealed for any further footage local residents or businesses may have that could help to help blow the men’s cover.
DCI Johnson said: “The examination of the scene has been painstaking and will continue. These examinations are vital. We must exploit this one-off opportunity to the fullest extent.”
Officers are set to use face recognition tools and probe files of known suspects to try to identify the men from the video.
"Although the gang went to painstaking attempts to mask their appearance with hard hats, scarves and dust masks, some distinctive features remained visible.
Police will also attempt to identify the number plate on a white Ford Transit used by the gang and seen for the first time on the recording.
If computer software can be used to piece together the van’s registration, hire firms and records of stolen motors will be combed for a match.
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