Enfield burglaries: Police manhunt after woman, 81, threatened at knifepoint during spate of raids for Asian gold

Burglars targeted two north London homes in what police believed were linked hunts for 'Asian gold'
PA Archive/PA Images
Harriet Brewis @HattieBrewis24 September 2019

Two violent thugs held an 81-year-old woman at knifepoint in her bed as they ripped gold bangles from her wrists.

Detectives said two men “barged through” the elderly victim’s bedroom door in Enfield, north London, last Friday night and "produced a sharp weapon which they then held to her face" while she was in bed.

The intruders then forcibly pulled off four bangles from her wrists as one of the men rifled through her belongings in the other rooms, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said.

Officers believe the assailants were targeting “Asian gold”.

The terrified victim quickly warned her assailants that police were on there way, and the men fled through a rear garden, climbing over a wall to escape.

She suffered bruising to her arms from the force of the bangles being removed but was otherwise not seriously injured, Scotland Yard said.

Officers said the incident, which took place at around 9.30pm on September 20, is understood to be linked to a separate incident in the same area.

Two days later, at about 9pm, a 53-year-old woman and her 65-year-old husband were at their home in Cartercatch Lane, Enfield, when they heard loud banging at the front door.

The door was then forced opened and a man demanded money and gold.

The man began searching the house searching for valuables, despite the victim’s protests that there were none.

“She was forced to lead him to the master bedroom where he rummaged through drawers and cupboards before slapping her in the face and demanding money,” a Met police spokesman said.

Meanwhile, her husband was in another room where he was confronted by two men armed with hammers and ordered to get down on the floor.

They demanded cash and gold and threatened to kill him before escaping.

The three suspects are described as white males, aged between 20 and 35 years, and wearing bandanas.

No arrests have been made.

Detective Inspector Paul Ridley, who is leading the investigation, said: “The offences 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 an 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 enquiry.

"I want these men caught. To target people in their homes, the places where they should feel most safe, is despicable and pure cowardice.

“I can reassure residents that increased patrols have been deployed in the area. These burglaries targeted high-value Asian gold and I would strongly recommend that residents review their home security in line with the burglary prevention advice which has been issued by the Metropolitan Police Service, particularly at this time of the year with Dwali fast-approaching.

“I would also urge any members of the public who may have been offered the stolen jewellery for sale or have CCTV or dashcam footage of the burglars to approach Police.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact North Area CID via 101, or by tweeting @MetCC.