Gang break into five houses and 'spray residents with acid' in terrifying spree

01 April 2023 , 19:51

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Detectives are hunting the gang, dressed in balaclavas, dark clothes and gloves, after multiple people were hospitalised due to being attacked with a corrosive substance (Image: Getty Images)

Police are hunting masked crooks who have broken into five different properties in just 46 hours and threatened or sprayed the occupants with a corrosive substance.

Detectives think that five violent burglaries around London are linked with a group of masked men forcing their way into a residential address each time.

The incidents have taken place in Brent Cross, Harrow and Southall since Wednesday, with the latest reported in Greenford on Friday evening.

In each case the suspects, described as dressed in dark clothing and wearing gloves and balaclavas, have either threatened or sprayed the occupants with a corrosive substance, before fleeing.

The first of the connected incidents took place on Wednesday, police believe, at a residential property in Highfield Avenue, Brent Cross.

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Highfield Avenue, Brent Cross

Police were alerted to an aggravated burglary with reports that four men had burst into the home and threatened a woman in her 40s with a knife before throwing an unknown substance at her. It is unknown at present whether any items were taken during the raid, which occurred around 11.14pm.

Just 26 minutes later at 11.40 officers were called to an incident in Harrow’s Flamstead Avenue where four men reportedly forced entry and stole a quantity of jewellery - but the shaken residents reported no injuries.

The following night at 10.56pm on Thursday (March 30) the gang struck again, spraying a man in his 70s with corrosive liquid after forcing entry to a house on Lady Margaret Road in Southall.

Police are treating the five break-ins as linked (Getty Images/imageBROKER RF)

The crooks, who were also armed with a knife and screwdriver, reportedly made off with a safe containing cash and jewellery.

The man was rushed to hospital where he received treatment for facial injuries which were later determined not to be life-changing.

The following night at around 8.45pm on Friday (March 31) the gang threatened another victim with a liquid after forcing their way into a home on Harrowdene Road in Harrow. No one was injured in this case but the four men made off with jewellery and other items.

Harrowdene Road, Harrow

The fourth incident occurred minutes later at 9.09pm when a group of men forced ther way into a house on Greenford Road, Greenford.

This time three women, two in their 20s and one in her 60s, were taken to hospital for facial injuries after being assaulted with a corrosive substance. Fortunately their injuries were not life-changing.

Detectives are now trying to track the gang down before they attack again.

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.

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'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 poeple responsible.'

There have been no arrests at this time.

Anyone with information can call 101, tweet @MetCC, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 using reference CAD8586/30Mar.

Joe Smith