A ram raid gang who stole more than £465,000 worth of clothing and handbags from high-end shops have been jailed.
The first burglary took place at Selfridges in Oxford Street at 3.30am on July 14 last year, involving two vehicles – an Audi S4 with stolen number plates, and a Jaguar S-Type, with cloned number plates.
The Jaguar reversed through the entrance doors and five burglars ran into the shop, stealing a number of Valentino and Balenciaga handbags before getting back into the vehicles and driving off.
Flying Squad detectives investigated the movements of the vehicles and suspects, and ‘extensive CCTV enquiries’ tracked the vehicles to a residential area in Highgate – but it wasn’t until the second burglary that officers were able to identify the members of the organised crime group.
At Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday, Five men admitted conspiring to burgle three Westminster premises following the series of raids across London’s West End.
Martin Dunne, 37, of Waltham Abbey, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, while Omar Bakali, 28, of Kilburn, was sentenced to four years and four months’ imprisonment.
One burglary took place just after midnight on 9 October 2020 at Moncler in Old Bond Street. CCTV evidence showed the group meeting in a residential area in Chalk Farm. As with the earlier offences, the group turned their mobile phones off at this meeting to avoid being detected. They approached the venue in a stolen Kia Niro and two motorbikes before smashing their way through the entrance door with a sledgehammer
Omar Bakali, left, of Kilburn, was sentenced to four years and four months’ imprisonment. Anthony Alleyne, right, of Peckham, was sentenced to four years and six months’ imprisonment.
Gary Lynch, left, of Highgate, was sentenced to two years and eight months’ imprisonment. Jamie Claydon, right, of Newbourne, Suffolk, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He also pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods
Jamie Claydon, 28, of Newbourne, Suffolk, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He also pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods.
Gary Lynch, 32, of Highgate, was sentenced to two years and eight months’ imprisonment, while Anthony Alleyne, 54, of Peckham, was sentenced to four years and six months’ imprisonment.
The second offence took place at Celine on Mount Street on 24 July 2020, at 4.05am, where two stolen vehicles – an Audi S4 and a Volkswagen Golf, both displaying stolen number plates – arrived at the scene.
The Golf reversed through the entrance doors at speed, causing ‘extensive’ structural damage, and five suspects ran into the store and stole a number of handbags.
The Golf was abandoned in the shop while the men left the scene in the Audi.
DNA linked Anthony Alleyne, 54, to the Golf.
Further telephone evidence and ANPR showed Dunne and Bakali travelling from Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, to north London on the evening of 24 July in the Audi S4.
CCTV evidence revealed them meeting with other members of the group at a residential area in Highgate to change clothes and prepare the Audi and Golf – changing number plates on the vehicles.
CCTV also showed the group rendezvousing in Highgate after the offence, transferring property stolen into a Ford Transit van.
Footage from the night of the offence, and later surveillance observations, linked this van to Lynch.
Images and messages found on Bakali’s phone showed him trying to sell the handbags on in the days after the offence.
The third burglary took place just after midnight on 9 October 2020 at Moncler in Old Bond Street.
CCTV evidence showed the group meeting in a residential area in Chalk Farm.
On July 14, 2014, Selfridges was the scene of the first theft. The two stolen vehicles were an Audi S4 and Jaguar S-Type. They both had stolen number plates. The Jaguar reversed through the entrance doors and five burglars ran into the shop, stealing a number of Valentino and Balenciaga handbags before getting back into the vehicles and driving off
To avoid detection, they also turned off their phones at the meeting.
The group arrived at the meeting in a stolen Kia Niro, two motorbikes and a van before smashing through the door using a sledgehammer..
Martin Dunne, 37, of Waltham Abbey, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment
They took a variety of bags, jackets and other clothes and ran off.
The motorbike that was being used had been abandoned by the police at the scene. Investigations later revealed it to have been taken.
On the evening of October 9, detectives carried out surveillance in Epping’s residential areas. They located Claydon and discovered large quantities of Moncler clothes in bags in his van.
The suspect was charged with handling stolen goods. He was released after an investigation.
Bakali’s DNA was linked to the motorcycle that was left on the spot, while images taken from Dunne’s cell phone revealed that Bakali had stolen clothing during the burglary.
Martyn Stone Detective Constable, Met’s Flying Squad stated that the investigation was extremely complicated and involved a large amount of evidence.
“The group caused havoc on the West End. Buildings were severely damaged, and valuable goods stolen. They have now discovered that crimes don’t pay. Thanks to the Flying Squad’s intricate investigation, the men will be behind bars.
Claydon was arrested once more in May 2021, and charged with conspiracy for burgle. Claydon was also arrested in March 2021, and charged with conspiring to burgle.
Investigators are continuing to pursue and bring justice to any suspects believed to have been involved in these crimes.