LONDON, Aug 14, 2009 (AFP) - A record reward of up to one million pounds was offered Friday 14 August to find the robbers who pulled off what is thought to be Britain's biggest jewellery heist, police said.

Photo:AFP/File/Leon Neal

Detectives said the reward, worth 1.16 million euros or 1.65 million dollars, was the largest ever offered in a crime of this sort and was intended to persuade any criminal associates of the thieves to hand them in.

Two smartly-dressed men toting guns walked into the exclusive Graff store on London's swanky New Bond Street on August 6 and stole 43 rings, bracelets, necklaces and watches with a retail value of 40 million pounds.

"Tyler and Company, on behalf of interested insurers, are offering a reward of up to one million pounds for information leading to the identification, arrest and prosecution of the person(s) responsible and the recovery of the stolen property," police said in a statement Friday 14 August.

Detective Chief Inspector Pam Mace said police were still pursuing a number of lines of enquiry but hoped the reward would jog people's memories.

"I think this is the biggest reward (that has) ever been offered for a crime of this type and I'm directing my appeal at people, and that includes criminal associates, who know who these robbers are and where they are," she said.

A 50-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the robbery, which took place in broad daylight in the British capital's smart Mayfair district.

The men, dressed in grey suits and white shirts and speaking with London accents, arrived in a black taxi and threatened staff with handguns.

As they left, they dragged a female staff member with them and fired a warning shot outside. They left her behind as they raced off in a blue BMW.

They abandoned their car nearby, firing another shot at the ground. No-one was hurt.

The raid was caught on camera by a passerby, a video now posted on YouTube, and police are also studying closed-circuit television footage.