Detectives investigating an armed robbery at a Bradford jewellers have confirmed they are linking the suspects to two other raids in the city.

Two men, aged 22 and 24, were still being questioned in police custody last night in connection with a gang assault on Tayyeba Jewellers in Little Lane, off Toller Lane, Girlington.

Police are determined to trace a black Volkswagen Golf with distinctive silver wing mirrors which was used to ferry the suspects to and from the scene.

A quantity of Asian jewellery was snatched from the shop at about 1.30pm on Thursday when five dark-clothed raiders smashed a window to gain entry. The gang are believed to have been carrying a sledgehammer, pickaxe handles and at least one firearm – thought to have been a shotgun – when they burst inside.

An intimidated female member of staff offered no resistance during the “terrifying ordeal” but was left unhurt as the raiders smashed open glass display cases to snatch their loot.

Following the initial investigations, Detective Chief Inspector Jon Hoyle, of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team (HMET), confirmed that one or more of the suspects was “likely” to have been involved in at least one of two other recent raids.

Two Asian jewellery shops owned by the same family – Shaandar Zewar Jewellers, in Maidstone Street, and Chacha Jewellers, in Great Horton Road – were hit in separate robberies over the past five months.

Four men brandishing guns took £150,000 of gold jewellery when they ramraided the former on March 8.

Similar items worth more than £100,000 were taken in a robbery at the second jewellers when two shots were fired from a sawn-off shotgun.

Det Chief Insp Hoyle said: “We are concerned that we have a group of people committing armed robberies in the area and it’s imperative that we get some help from the community in relation to these matters.”

He urged anyone who knows the location or the history of the getaway car used in the robbery of Tayyeba Jewellers to contact police immediately.

“We believe five men entered the premises. We believe that they will be local to the area and that the answer will lie within the community. I’m sure someone will have some relevant information that will help in the conviction of the people responsible.”

The suspects are described as young men wearing dark clothing. One wore a black and white top.

Anyone with information about the car or the armed robbery should call 0845 6060606 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.