A SECOND 17-year-old boy has been charged in connection with an attempted armed raid at a high-end jewellers.

The teenager from Romford, who can’t be named for legal reasons, has been charged with criminal damage, aggravated burglary and threatening a person with an offensive weapon after the attempted break in at Coleby’s Jewellers in Billericay’s High Street.

The jewellers and neighbouring business LJR Hair and Beauty was left with smashed windows after a gang-of-four wielding sledgehammers launched the attack.

One member of the gang, who were all riding mopeds, smashed the bike into the front door of the jewellers.

They made off empty-handed.

Another 17-year-old boy, from Billericay, has been charged with aggravated burglary.

The pair remain in custody and will next appear at Basildon Crown Court on March 6.

Police are continuing to search for other people suspected to have been involved in the incident.

Officers would not confirm if the mopeds were stolen.

Staff at Coleby’s Jewellers said they are in the final stages of installing tougher glass on their door to improve their security.

A staff member at LJR Hair and Beauty confirmed with the Echo the window is still under repairs, but their business has not been affected.

Renna Bailey, from Forbidden Ink which is located above the jewellers, said: “It was awful what happened to the jewellers but despite what happened, we still feel safe in the High Street because burglaries rarely happen here. In fact this is the first time I’ve heard of it.”

Billericay Town Council leader Jim Devlin said shops owners should not solely rely on CCTV as their security.

He said: “You should always look after yourselves and work out how to protect yourselves.

“CCTV only lowers the chances of crime and it only makes criminals commit crime somewhere else. Basildon Council is in charge of the CCTV, and the council does have plans to install more security cameras in our town.

"But CCTV shouldn’t be your go-to answer for protecting yourselves. Every shop is different. For example the hairdressers next to the jewellers is less likely to need very tough security because they are a hairdressers.

“I want to congratulate Coleby’s Jewellers for their tight security because it managed to make it hard for, and stop the gang from getting into the shop.

“Although the jewellers had CCTV, it was the strong door and glass that stopped the ram raiding. The moped failed to get inside the shop.

“The lesson here for other shop owers is to work out what security is needed for your shop and do some risk assessment.”