Brazen Daylight Ram-Raid at Soho Road Pawnbrokers Sparks Major Police Investigation

BIRMINGHAM, West Midlands — The Handsworth area of Birmingham was placed on lockdown after a group of masked offenders carried out a brazen daylight ram-raid at the H&T Pawnbrokers branch on Soho Road.

The high-profile incident occurred on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at approximately 12:30 pm. Shocked eyewitnesses reported seeing a silver Peugeot 207 repeatedly reverse-rammed into the glass shopfront of the pawnbroker's shop. Multiple hooded individuals quickly exited the vehicle, entered the damaged store, and grabbed a large quantity of high-value gold jewellery before piling back into the car and speeding away. During the raid, smoke was seen billowing from the premises, triggering fire alarms.

Shortly after the incident, emergency services discovered the Peugeot getaway car abandoned and engulfed in flames on nearby Merryhill Drive in Hockley. Firefighters extinguished the blaze, and the vehicle has been recovered for forensic testing.

Soho Road was closed to traffic for several hours as forensic experts examined the scene, causing significant traffic delays and bus diversions. West Midlands Police have launched a full-scale inquiry, requesting anyone with dash-cam footage or information to contact them immediately quoting log 2277 of April 15, 2026, or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously.