Masked burglar gang spray their victims with chemicals
A masked gang is breaking into homes across London and spraying the occupants with a corrosive liquid, the Metropolitan Police has warned.
The four men have targeted five properties in Brent Cross, Southall, Greenford and Harrow in just 46 hours in the past week.
Victims of the violent break-ins, aged between 20 and 70, have received hospital treatment after having the unidentified chemical thrown at them.
The suspects were described as being dressed in dark clothing and wearing balaclavas and gloves.
They are believed to have fled in a dark-coloured vehicle, detectives said.
The spate of burglaries began on Wednesday, March 29, following reports of an incident at a home in Highfield Avenue, Brent Cross.
Corrosive liquid
It was reported that four men had forced entry to the property before threatening a resident with a knife. An unknown substance was also thrown towards a woman in her 40s.
Less than half an hour later police were alerted to another incident in Flamsted Avenue, Harrow. On that occasion, four men forced entry into an address and stole a quantity of jewellery but there were no reports of any injuries.
The following day, police were called to reports of another aggravated burglary at a house in Lady Margaret Road, Southall.
Officers attended and were told 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 at the address and stole a safe containing cash and jewellery.
The man, aged in his 70s, 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 Friday, 31 March. Again, four males forced entry to a house and threatened the occupant with a liquid.
‘Be vigilant but not alarmed’
The final incident happened 25 minutes later on Greenford Road after a group of men entered a house and sprayed the three female residents - one in her 60s and two in their 20s - with a corrosive substance.
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.”
