Violent robbers who targeted post offices and jewellers set for jail terms
Two men face prison for committing a series of violent robberies across London and Kent.
James Dixon, 42, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to steal, robbery of cash and possession of an offensive weapon during a hearing at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on October 28. He is due to be sentenced on January 18.
Thomas Loring, 41, of Dunkery Road, Mottingham, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery on Monday at Kingston Crown Court, after the jury deliberated for 42 minutes. He is due to be sentenced on January 16.
Dixon and Loring were part of an organised crime network based in South London and targeted cash in transit vans, post offices and a jewellers in a spate of vicious assaults which left victims with serious injuries.
On March 26, during a robbery on an antique jewellery shop in the Bourbon Hanby Arcade, Chelsea, which was captured on CCTV, two shop workers in their 70s were attacked with a claw hammer and about £200,000 of jewellery was stolen.
An investigation by the Met’s Flying Squad involved specialist officers reviewing hundreds of hours of CCTV footage, evidential profiling, analysis of DNA, use of vehicle monitoring technology and the identification of fake number plates.
Dixon and Loring were arrested following an attack targeting a worker at a post office in the Old Kent Road on June 19, during which they punched and kicked the custodian, stealing £26,000.
Senior Security Manager at Post Office, Mark Dinsdale, said: “We’re grateful to the Metropolitan Police and their officers for all their work to bring these serious criminal offenders to justice.
“Where Postmasters, or our own cash delivery drivers, are the victims of crime, this has a devastating impact on them and also a knock-on-effect on our branches’ ability to provide everyday cash and banking services to local communities.
“We will continue to work closely with the Metropolitan Police to support their efforts to prevent or detect criminal behaviour.”
Detective Inspector Kelly Schonhage, who led the investigation, said: “Evidence obtained as part of our investigation revealed this criminal network were proficient, competent and well organised and were aware of the impact and relevance of forensic and identification evidence.
“These men inflicted serious injuries and caused immense distress during violent robberies which deliberately targeted the cash and valuables in transit industry and businesses in London and Kent.”
Pictured top: CCTV footage captures the terrifying raid on a jewellers off Sydney Street in Chelsea (Picture: The Met)