Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
Headline: Appeal for witnesses to Croydon robberies
Detectives are appealing for witnesses and information following a series of robberies where the victims have been threatened with a firearm.
Officers from Croydon CID are investigating five night-time robberies which occurred in different parts of the borough between Friday, 2 and Monday, 5 February.
The victims were all sitting in their vehicles at the time of the attacks. On three of these occasions, private hire vehicles have been targeted.
In each robbery, the victim has either had a firearm pulled on them, or the suspects have made threats that they have a firearm without one being seen.
None of the victims were injured.
Detective Inspector David Willis, of Croydon CID, said: “We are appealing for anyone with information to contact us. If you were in the area at the times of the robberies and saw, or heard, anything out of the ordinary, please come forward. If you have private CCTV in any of these roads we would like to hear from you because even if you haven’t captured the crime, you may have recorded the suspects approaching or leaving.
“Although there have been no injuries at this point, the impact of being a victim of a violent crime runs far deeper than injuries alone. The nature of these incidents and the potential that the firearm could be real makes it vital that we identify the people responsible as soon as possible.
“It is important that we remain vigilant to any potential danger that may undermine our safety, and report anything that looks suspicious.”
The five robberies took place across Croydon on the following dates:
– At 23:40hrs on Friday, 2 February on London Road in Norbury;
– At 21:25hrs on Saturday, 3 February on Falkland Park Avenue in South Norwood;
– At 22:35hrs on Saturday, 3 February on Duppas Avenue in Croydon;
– At 00:55hrs on Monday, 5 February on Berne Road in Thornton Heath; and,
– At 01:35hrs on Monday, 5 February on King’s Road in South Norwood.
Anyone with information should call officers at Croydon via 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting reference ‘Operation AMAY’.
There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.