Two security guards foiled an attempt to steal one of the huge replicas of King Charles’s crown adorning bus stops along Oxford Street.
The would-be jewel thieves escaped after dropping the two-metre gold and purple version of St Edward’s Crown which His Majesty will wear at Saturday’s coronation.
The incident took place at 2am on Wednesday but was prevented by security guards on patrol. It has since been repaired ready for reinstallation today.
The New West End Company, which represents 600 businesses in the shopping district, believe the men carried out the raid for social media notoriety.
Chief executive Dee Corsi said: “The West End is a must-do this weekend, with a huge range of activities and decorations to help everyone feel part of the nation’s celebrations.
“Our members and team have worked tirelessly to make sure the district is looking its best and has plenty to offer the millions of domestic and international visitors we will be hosting.
“With excitement running high, our security and cleaning teams are working 24 hours a day across the bank holiday weekend, supporting London’s Metropolitan Police and Westminster City Council to guarantee visitors a happy and glorious day.”
A man who sparked a major security scare by allegedly throwing shotgun cartridges over the gates of Buckingham Palace has been detained under the Mental Health Act, police said.
Dog breeder David Huber, 59, was arrested on Tuesday after reportedly travelling from a remote farm 250 miles away in Cumbria.
Police said the incident is not being treated as terror-related.
