Police hunting burglar gang who poured cleaning fluid into victim’s eyes
Jewellery, gold and cash taken during spate of robberies
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Police are hunting a gang of burglars who poured cleaning fluid in the eyes of one of their victims.
The gang stole family gold and used cleaning fluid to destroy forensic evidence during a string of burglaries in Enfield, the Metropolitan Police said.
Scotland Yard said the first robbery took place shortly after midnight on 11 April, when five men armed with screwdrivers and a crowbar forced their way into a house.
The men stole cash, jewellery and mobile phones and sprayed cleaning liquid on the floor and door handles before leaving, in an apparent attempt to cover their tracks.
Six men took part in the second burglary nearby on 27 April, where one suspect armed with a crowbar threatened a couple in their sixties.
The gang made off with jewellery, including gold Indian bangles, a pair of diamond earrings and a gold chain, after one suspect sprayed a cleaning fluid on the doors and floors.
Two days later they forced their way into a house after one suspect told a 61-year-old woman who opened the door he needed to fix the sink.
Two other suspects then forced their way inside, threatening the woman, who was alone at the time, with a screwdriver.
They stole jewellery, which included bangles worth several thousand pounds, and once again sprayed cleaning fluid or bleach.
During the final and most vicious burglary, four men wearing bandannas forced their way inside a house on Tuesday 30 April.
At least one suspect was armed with a screwdriver and the victims were pushed to the floor while the suspects stole a quantity of cash.
Before they made their escape in a black Mercedes, they poured cleaning fluid onto the victims, which entered the eyes of their female victim.
There have been no arrests. All suspects were described as white with Irish accents.
“These are very frightening attacks against people of all ages who were confronted in their homes by a group of armed men,” Detective Inspector Paul Ridley, who is leading the investigation, said.
“They have stolen a large quantity of property from the victims and were not afraid to use violence.”
He added: “All of these burglaries targeted high value gold and I would strongly recommend that residents review their home security in line with the burglary prevention advice which has been issued by the Metropolitan Police Service.”
Information can be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org