Ahead of Diwali festivities, celebrated imposingly by Indians globally, Scotland Yard is investigating a series of recent burglaries targeting gold at Indian origin households in North London.
The detectives from the North Area Command Unit of Metropolitan Police began investigating burglaries following the incidents of two suspected linked aggravated burglaries aiming at South Asian gold over the weekend in London Borough of Enfield, including one in which an 81-year-old woman was threatened.
Detective Inspector Paul Ridley, who is leading the investigation assured residents that increased patrols have been deployed. He strongly recommended residents to review their home security in line with the burglary prevention advice. In the view of burglaries targeting high-value Asian gold, the Metropolitan Police Service issued a burglary prevention advice at this time of the year when Diwali fast-approaching.
He also urged any members of the public who may have been offered the stolen jewelry for sale or have CCTV or dashcam footage of the burglars to approach the police.
According to Met police report, on September 20, 2019 at around 21:30 hours local time, two men barged through the bedroom door of an 81-year-old woman and produced a sharp weapon, which they then held to her face and threatened to give valuables.
One of the men even against her will pulled off four gold bangles from each of her two wrists as the other man started looting belongings in the other rooms. As soon as the woman warned that police were on their way, the men fled through a rear garden, climbing over a wall.
The victim was safe and sound with only some bruises on her arms from the force of the bangles being removed.
In a similar incident, on September 22 at around 21:00 hours local time, a 53-year-old woman and her 65-year-old husband were at home when they heard the loud sound of someone banging on the front door. As the woman immediately stood up, the door was thrown open and a man got into the home demanding money and gold.
Despite couple said there were no valuables, the man began searching the house. The victim woman was forced to show man the way to the master bedroom and he searched through drawers and cupboards. As he found nothing, the burglar slapped her in the face and demanded money.
The victim’s husband was in the other room confronted by two other burglars, who were demanding gold and threatened to kill him with hammers. The victim was ordered to get to the floor.
Later, the three burglars, described as white males, aged between 20 and 35 years and wearing bandanas, made off from the home.
DI Ridley, issuing an appeal for information this week, said:
The offenses occurred minutes away from each other along the ‘A10 corridor’. I believe the suspects will have used a vehicle and the main road as a conduit to provide accessible access and escape route.
If you witnessed the offenders arriving or leaving, or know who is responsible then come forward as a priority. My investigation team will continue to follow every line of inquiry. I want these men caught; to target people in their homes, the places where they should feel most safe, is despicable and pure cowardice,” he said.
The Indian origin families in the UK are always asked to be wary of their household gold especially during the time of Indian festivals like Diwali and Navratri when these jewelry are used in ceremonies and functions.
