Two masked men who battered a jewellers’ display window with sledgehammers during a daring daytime raid were chased away by a plucky PC.

The robbers made off with what is thought to be two watches when they targeted Selvarajah Gold House, in Mitcham Road, Tooting, on Monday.

The pair grabbed the items from the display at about 12.45pm after smashing a hole in the window - but were spotted by PC Craig Benn, who was off duty and on his way home.

PC Benn immediately called for back-up and chased the criminals, who made off along Bickerseth Road on mountain bikes as soon as they were rumbled.

The unarmed Wandsworth police officer gave commentary to his colleagues over the phone while following the robbers but was unable to keep up.

A modest PC Benn said of his efforts: “I guess its what we do to be honest and why we do the job we do.”

One of the masked men was black, about 18 to 21 years old, of slim build and 5ft 8ins to 5ft 9ins. He wore a black jacket with the hood up, a black scarf with white pattern covering his face and black gloves.

The other was black, a similar age and about 6ft 1ins. He wore a grey hooded top with a single black stripe down each arm, a black scarf covering his face and black gloves.

The raid echoed one which took place on July 13 last year, in which three youths on mountain bikes aged between 16 and 22 robbed the store - with two eventually being charged.

Anyone with information about the latest robbery should call Wandsworth police on 0300 123 1212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.