Chilling moment masked robber brandishes a running chainsaw to scare off would-be heroes as gang ransacks two jewellery shops in minutes

This is the chilling moment a masked robber waves a running chainsaw to threaten a group of would-be heroes as his gang raids two jewellery shops in a matter of minutes.

The incident, which took place at the White Rose shopping centre in Leeds yesterday, sees one bandit menacingly wield the power tool at other shoppers while the rest of the gang race into luxury stores to ransack goods.

The group of five men, all with faces masked by balaclavas, stormed into the centre's main entrance before darting towards its Beaverbrooks and Tag Heuer stores.

The gang then fled the shops with items worth thousands of pounds all while brandishing the chainsaw, as well as a sledgehammer and baseball bats, to terrify bystanders.

Now footage has emerged of the theft which sees the group brazenly grab watches and jewellery and threaten passersby.

The haunting noise of the power tool can be heard across the shopping centre as customers dart around in panic.

Security staff watch helplessly on as the masked bandit, dressed all in black, stands outside the Beaverbrooks store revving up the chainsaw.

Meanwhile, the other thieves snatch anything they can get hold of inside the luxury shops, which are positioned nextdoor to one another in the centre.

The gang members then run out of the store back into the main foyer of the shopping centre with some carrying baseball bats as well as sports bags presumably filled with the loot.

Upturned tables, smashed cabinets and damaged counters can be seen in the aftermath of the raid with shocked voices heard in the background. 

Music continues to play eerily on the loudspeaker as security guards stand in front of the now closed shops.

Three police cars are then pictured outside the White Rose before staff are seen taping off the entrance to the shopping centre.

A terrified member of staff had their hair pulled during the raid, police said, but was otherwise physically unharmed. 

Shoppers revealed their panic on Facebook after watching the balaclava-clad thieves storm into the shopping centre.

One said: 'I can't put it into words.

'Me and my daughter were in Boots sniffing perfume and I could her the chainsaw but dismissed it as some workmen.

'Then my daughter said to me "mummy, why is everyone running?"

'At that point I knew we could be in trouble and I felt the colour drain from my whole body.

'The noise of the chainsaw was so loud and the Boots staff were trying to shut the shutters to get people locked in.'

The woman added: 'I made the decision to run away from the chainsaw noise. So we ran out of Boots and turned left up the escalators. They were all on the right.

'I got in the car and drove us out quick but then had to park up cause I was shaking and couldn't drive.'

Another shopper said: 'The worst thing I've ever seen and the chills I felt when the guy with the saw was next to me and my little cousin, seeing parents grab their children and running.

'I have work in three hours and I'm too traumatised to even sleep right now.'

Police are appealing for information about the robbery, which happened shortly after 8.40pm.

Detective Inspector John Graham, of West Yorkshire Police, said: 'This clearly planned and targeted robbery has taken place when the shopping centre was reasonably quiet, but I understand the huge concern that seeing these individuals armed with multiple weapons will have caused to those who were present.

'Thankfully, the staff member who was confronted by these robbers did not suffer any lasting injury, but this has been an extremely traumatic experience for them. Any use of weapons that causes people to fear violence is extremely serious.

'We have extensive enquiries ongoing to identify those responsible.

'I would urge anyone who has any information that could assist us in our ongoing investigation into this robbery to please make contact.'

Information can be passed to Leeds District CID via Live Chat online or by calling 101, quoting crime reference 13240344913.

You can also pass on information anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or online.