An armed robber is being sought by police following a smash and grab raid in which he threatened staff with a handgun before stealing a haul of Rolex watches and hijacking a taxi to flee the scene . Thousands of pounds worth of Rolex watches were stolen in the raid at the family-run Laing The Jeweller 's in Edinburgh city centre this morning . The incident occurred at about 9.30am and police said the suspect stormed the premises with a handgun before making off with a number of 'high value items ' . The armed robber stormed Laing The Jewellers in Edinburgh city centre ( pictured ) at about 9.30am today and threatened staff with a handgun before making off with a number of 'high value items ' . He remains on the run . Officers remain at the scene of the store ( above ) while investigations continue to trace the suspect . Police said the suspect fled the scene on foot before getting into a private hire car and being driven away from the city . He then fled the scene on foot before entering a private hire car , in which he was driven to the Pilton area of Edinburgh . It is understood there may have been a passenger in the taxi at the time of the car hijacking . Police said the suspect was last seen when he got out of the vehicle in Pilton Drive North . It is believed he is still armed and may have been joined by a number of accomplices . Police said no one at the jewellers , which was founded in 1840 and sells high quality rings and luxury watches , was injured . However , several members of staff were said to be shaken after the incident . Police Scotland has now dispatched officers across the city , particularly in the Pilton area , in the hunt for the suspect . A spokesman said : 'We can confirm we were called to Frederick Street this morning to reports of a robbery taking place . 'Inquiries are still at a very early stage and are ongoing . ' Laing confirmed the incident on Twitter this morning , writing : 'We can confirm that an incident took place at our Frederick St store this morning . This is currently being investigated by Police Scotland . ' A spokesman for the business also told MailOnline : 'Following the incident in our Frederick Street store this morning , we can thankfully confirm that no-one was injured and some valuable items were stolen . 'It has been a stressful experience for our staff so we have taken the decision to close the store for business for the rest of today and let the police focus on their investigations . ' Laing said no one was injured in the raid but said staff were left shocked and it had been a 'stressful experience ' . Police have cordoned off the upmarket store , which will remain closed for the remainder of today . Laing The Jewellers took to Twitter this morning to confirm the incident , which is being investigated by police . Businesses across Scotland took to Twitter to offer support to Laing which suffered the armed raid today . It was met with response from other businesses across the city , including Hamilton and Inches which said : 'Thinking about our colleagues at @ LaingEdinburgh after the awful robbery this morning . We hope everyone is okay . ' Eric n Smith , diamond ring designers , added : ' @ LaingEdinburgh Sorry to read about what happened this morning . Hope you 're all OK. ' The suspect is described as being a man in his early 30s , 5ft 10ins tall and wearing a dark padded hooded jacket , blue trousers , a blue and white scarf and carrying a black and white rucksack . Detective sergeant Raymond Gray said : 'This robbery left the staff badly shaken but thankfully unhurt . 'We are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen the man , or has information about the crime , so that we can trace him as soon as possible . ' It is not the first time the jewellers has been targeted . In January last year , a man walked into the store and grabbed a handful of watches – believed to be worth more than £17,000 – before fleeing the shop . However , the heist was foiled when Ray Mallon , the mayor of Middlesbrough , wrestled the suspect crook to the ground outside the store . He held the man in a headlock until police arrived and made the arrest . Speaking at the time , Mr Mallon said : ' I was looking at some watches in the window of a jewellers shop when I noticed a commotion inside . Suddenly a man came sprinting out the door with two assistants chasing after him . 'What happened next was instinctive , it took me back to the old days . ' I stepped across the man and we grabbed hold of each other and wrestled for a few seconds . I managed to get him in a headlock and we ended up on the ground . ' Anyone with information about today 's incident which could help police should call 101 .
Laing The was targeted by armed terrorists in Edinburgh this year . Armed thieves made off with thousands of pounds worth of Rolex watches . Police said they robbed shop with gun before stealing ' high value items ' Then travelling on foot before getting in private hire car and being driven away . Store said no one was hurt but added : ' It has been a stressful experience '