A SUSPECT arrested over the £200m Hatton Garden gem heist is a plumber dad who was “always willing to lend a hand”.
Hugh Doyle, 48, was seized yesterday at his £500,000 semi-detached home in Enfield, North London, which he shares which his partner and young children.
Shocked neighbours described the action film fan as a “good” and “helpful” man as he was quizzed by Scotland Yard’s Flying Squad today over the Easter safety deposit box raid.
A video has emerged of former printing firm worker Doyle giving plumbing advice in a five-minute interview clip.
Police were standing guard outside his home today following the series of armed raids across London and Kent.
A motorcycle belonging to his company was parked outside, along with children’s scooters and bicycles.
The Met’s Flying Squad arrived this morning and began searching an upstairs bedroom.
One neighbour said: “Everyone knows him. The local pub knows him very well. He was not a bad man.
“He was a helpful person always willing to lend a hand. I am just very surprised. We are shocked that this has happened to us.”
Manchester City fan Doyle, who runs Associated Response plumbing and heating company, is originally from Dublin.
He was arrested along with three OAPs and three men in their late 50s over the raid.
Police are working on a theory that the haul was wanted as a “retirement fund”.
The pensioners were among nine suspects seized in 12 swoops in the wake of the Bank Holiday break-in at a safe deposit centre.
A source said: “Police are looking at whether the suspects had plotted a last ‘pension fund’ raid.”
Those held by the Flying Squad include Brian Reader, 76, and 50-year-old son Brian, who is known as Paul.
They were led from their home in Dartford, Kent, in handcuffs.
Five of the other suspects – two OAPs aged 74 and 67, two men of 58, and a man of 43 – were seized in North London.
The final suspect, 59, was arrested in East London.
Police said a number of bags were seized containing “significant amounts of high-value property”.
A Met statement said: “Officers are confident these are items stolen during the burglary.”
As the Readers were escorted from their home, the father was seen clutching his chest in apparent pain.
He is understood to be recovering after recently falling from a tree.
Kevin Watson, whose house overlooks the Readers’ home, said: “Just after 10am about three vans full of police turned up. There were maybe 20 or more officers.
“They surrounded the property, entered and shouted, ‘Police! police!’ It was quite orderly. There was no fight.”
Mr Reader and his son are understood to run a second-hand car dealership called Pentire Cars from home.
A six-strong gang broke into Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Ltd in the heart of London’s jewellery district over the Easter Bank Holiday.
They abseiled down a lift shaft, cut into the vault and rifled 72 deposit boxes, stealing gems and cash.
Police were criticised for failing to respond to an intruder alarm that went off.
Met Commander Peter Spindler praised the arrests.
He said: “We have been portrayed as acting like Keystone Cops. In the best tradition of Scotland Yard these detectives have done their utmost to bring justice to the victims of crime.”
Meanwhile, police have launched an appeal to trace the white van thought to have been used in the daring heist.
CCTV images show the transit around the Hatton Garden area over the Easter weekend.
Det Supt Craig Turner, of the Met’s Flying Squad, said: “It was a white Transit van, registration DU53 VNG, which was caught on CCTV near Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Ltd.
“We have had the CCTV from an early stage of the investigation but we are now releasing the registration of the van.
“So far we haven’t managed to recover the van.”
Anyone with information should call the Met’s Flying Squad on 020 8785 8655 or email on opspire@met.police.uk.
How heist panned out
HERE is how events unfolded in the Hatton Garden jewellery raid.
THURSDAY April 2: Ginger man arrives at 9.23pm, four minutes after staff lock up for Easter weekend. Ford Transit turns up and men drag wheelie bins into building.
FRIDAY 3: Intruder alarm goes off. Police decide no response is needed. Gang load up and drive off.
SATURDAY 4: Three gang members return, the first at 9.17pm.
SUNDAY 5: The three load equipment and wheelie bins into van and leave.
TUESDAY 7: Raid discovered at 8.10am.
THURSDAY 23: Police offer a £20,000 reward.
TUESDAY May 19: Nine men are arrested. Scotland Yard reveals it recovered a “significant amount of high-value property” after raiding 12 addresses across London and Kent.