Gang of masked men have been threatening victims with corrosive substance
Three women were in the house when the gang struck
April 4, 2023
Police have confirmed that an aggravated burglary that took place in Greenford is linked to a spate of similar offences that have taken place recently in west and north west London.
The police say they are now working around the clock to identify a gang they believe to have been involved in at least five burglaries in a short period.
This Friday (31 March), some time before 9.09pm, a group of masked men forced their way into a home on Greenford Road. There were three women inside, one in her sixties and two in their twenties. They had a corrosive substance thrown at them and had to be taken to hospital but their injuries were assessed to be neither life-threatening or life-changing.
This was a latest in a series of offences that occurred over three nights in which group of masked men have forced entry to residential addresses and either threatened or sprayed occupants with a corrosive substance, before fleeing.
The suspects have been described as being dressed in dark clothing and wearing balaclavas and gloves. They are believed to have fled in a dark-coloured vehicle.
The first incident occurred in Highfield Avenue near Brent Cross shortly before 11:14pm on Wednesday, 29 March. It was reported that four men had forced entry into the property before threatening the resident with a knife. An unknown substance was thrown towards the victim, a woman aged in her forties. It is currently unknown whether any items were taken.
A short time later, at around 11:40pm police were alerted to an incident in Flamsted Avenue, Harrow. Four males forced entry into an address and stole a quantity of jewellery. There were no reports of any injuries.
The following night, (Thursday, 30 March), police were called to reports of an aggravated burglary at a house in Lady Margaret Road, Southall a 10:56pm. They were told that four men had broken into the property armed with a knife and a screwdriver. They sprayed a corrosive liquid into the face of a man who was inside and stole a safe containing cash and jewellery. The man, aged in his seventies, was taken to hospital with facial injuries which were later assessed to be not life-threatening or life-changing.
The fourth incident happened in Harrowdene Road, Harrow at around 8:35pm on Friday, 31 March not long before the Greenford burglary. Four males forced entry into a property and threatened the occupant with a liquid. Jewellery and other items were stolen before the group fled. No one was injured.
Detective Sergeant Huss Ahmed, North West Command Unit, said, "Local people have been rightly concerned following a number of incidents that have been reported online and on social media. We of course share that concern.
"We can confirm we are treating five incidents across Harrow and Ealing as linked.
"We are advising local people to be vigilant but not alarmed - stay alert to your surroundings at night, keep doors locked and windows closed, and monitor any doorbell and security camera systems to check on any suspicious activity.
"If you have information, video or images that you think could help us, it is vital that you report it to us immediately so that we can track down and arrest the people responsible."
If you have information that may help the police investigation, call 101 or tweet @MetCC with information, ref CAD8586/30Mar.
To remain 100% anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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