Joint raid sees seven arrested for moped-enabled robberies

The Metropolitan Police have teamed up with officers in Dorset to arrest seven people for their involvement in two moped enabled robberies.

The dawn raids were the culmination of an intelligence-led operation by the two forces, specifically targeting a gang who used mopeds and motorcycles to commit offences.

The first offence took place in September last year, with four men forcing their way into a jewellers in south London armed with a knife and a hammer. They entered the premises, stealing a quantity of goods.

Then in March of this year four men robbed a jewellers in Bournemouth. This time they were armed with what officers believe was a bottle of a corrosive substance, hammers and allegedly a samurai sword. They stole a large selection of jewellery and escaped on a pair of mopeds.

Following a detailed investigation involving detectives from both the Met’s Operation Venice, a team specifically set up to fight moped crime, and Dorset Police, a further four people were linked with the gang.

Officers from both forces then participated in raids in addresses in London and Dorset. Seven people were arrested during the raids on suspicion of robbery and suspicion of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, while work continues to identify the eighth person.

“The outcome of this operation is as a result of solid partnership working between the Met and Dorset Police,” says Chief Inspector Jim Corbett of Operation Venice. “Working together, officers identified and arrested these violent individuals who committed these offences.

“Today’s activity again shows our commitment to reducing moped and motorcycle crime, and that we will seek to bring offenders to justice at every opportunity.”

The Met have been under renewed pressure to act as the positive effects of last year’s work has started to fade. The Met came under intense scrutiny when they boasted about their new ‘tactical contact’ policy, which saw them ending chases by knocking offenders off scooters.

The result was a huge reduction in reported crime, but still only down to the level of previous years. Now the recent good weather has brought the scooter scum back out. Just this weekend, a pair were photographed in London brandishing a 12in knife, which they were using to threaten people into handing over jewellery.

Break-in at Tiffany’s

Moped riding thieves have ransacked the Sloane Square branch of Tiffany & Co in London, reportedly swarming in to grab high-end jewellery after an accomplice rammed the store with a Transit tipper truck.

Despite being reinforced, the front window was forced into the store, giving the thieves access to “a significant amount of items” being stolen.

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