SEVEN men behind a terrifying week-long spate of armed robberies have been jailed for a total 71 years.
The men, six from Croydon, committed seven robberies between March 23 and March 29 last year, police said.
They stole cars, cash and goods from victims including a couple in their seventies, often wielding knives and wearing masks.
Their attacks were carried out in homes and on the street in a small area of eight roads at most about two kilometres apart in north Croydon.
The robberies started just after 8pm on March 23 when masked men confronted the elderly couple in their back garden, police said.
The men threatened the couple with knives before stealing cash, jewellery and mobile phones and driving away in the couple's Toyota Yaris.
Three days later, at about 10pm on Tuesday March 26, a group of men threatened with a hammer a man returning to his Audi in Norton Gardens, Norbury, stealing the car and his mobile phone.
Hours afterwards, just after midnight on March 27, the suspects broke into a property in Semley Road, Norbury, breaking a man's jaw when he tried to resist.
Again, the men stole jewellery, watches, mobile phones and the man's silver Volkswagen Golf.
Less than one hour earlier masked men had tried to break into a property in Lucerne Road, Thornton Heath, but ran away when they were spotted by a teenage occupant.
The attacks continued the next day, Thursday March 28, when six masked men robbed a woman at an address in Turle Road, Norbury, at 10.40pm.
The woman, in her fifties, heard a noise on the ground floor of her property and was confronted by the men holding a kitchen knife. They stole mobile phones and a games console station.
Two days later, at around 10.30pm on Saturday March 29, masked men grabbed a women in Norman Road, Thornton Heath, and dragged her to her property yards away.
Stealing her costume jewellery, they forced her to knock on the door of her home address, when they were fought off by her family.
On the same night just before midnight in Dacre Road, Broad Green, masked men stole personal property from a teenager and drove off in his Renault Megane.
The men were caught after one of them, Cameron Smith, 19, of Silverleigh Road, Thornton Heath, was caught driving the stolen Renault Megane and arrested.
Detectives were able to identify the rest of the gang and all the men were charged by July 2013.
Detectives recovered all four vehicles stolen. They also found some of the goods at an address in Gillet Road, Thornton Heath, where two of the robbers lived.
At Croydon Crown Court on Thursday, the men were handed the following sentences:
- Kwasi Owusu-Amankwaa, 19, of Bensham Manor Road, Thornton Heath: 10 years
- Ohene Bamfo, 23, of Christie Drive, South Norwood: 10 years
- Cameron Smith, 20, of Silverleigh Road, Thornton Heath: 6 years
- Cheick Cisse, 19, of Gillett Road, Thornton Heath: 14 years
- Aurel Lunganyu , 23, of Gillett Road, Thornton Heath: 12 years
- Tyler Williams-Clifford, 19, of Wickham Road, Shirley: 12 years
- A 17-year-old from Surrey who has not been identified due to his age: 7 years
Detective Superintendent Simon Messinger from Croydon police said:
"I am pleased with the results of this investigation.
"The victims were subjected to a terrifying experience and I hope that the sentencing today brings them some comfort.
"I also hope it sends a strong and clear message out to those who think that they will be able to get away with violent crime.
"We will pursue every avenue and will use all technology at our disposal to ensure that people are investigated, charged and brought before a court".
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