Vigilance can report that four armed robbers were last week jailed for a total of thirty years after being captured by police within minutes of committing a robbery in Bromley.
According to a Met source Clifton Thomas-Bassir, 28yrs (date of birth 23.08.83) of Stevenson Crescent, Southwark; Caniggia Jarrett,20yrs (date of birth 12.11.91) of Probyn Road, Lambeth; and a 17 year old male from Lambeth were all found guilty of robbery and possession of a firearm at Blackfriars Crown Court, Thomas-Bassir was sentenced to ten years imprisonment, Jarrett to eight and a half years and the 17 year old juvenile to six years at Blackfriars Crown Court on 6 January.
Whilst a fourth male, Sederick Semo, 18yrs (date of birth 06.06.93) of Dorset Road, Lambeth who had pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a firearm and was sentenced to five and a half years imprisonment.
Chief Inspector Malcolm Noone from Bromley Police said: "The rapid response by uniformed officers led to the arrest of these men shortly after they had committed the crime. The combination of this rapid response and seizure of evidence ensured a thorough investigation by colleagues at the Flying Squad and a successful conviction at Court".
Fact file
Our Intelligence and Policing Team gathered that on Tuesday 20 July 2010 at approximately 17:20hrs two males burst into The Money Shop, High Street, Bromley brandishing a black handgun. Staff were forced to the floor and the group stole more than £3,000 cash before attempting to flee the scene, but were unable to do so as the door was locked.
A Police spokesperson disclosed that the two men, with the help of a third male outside kicked the main door causing the glass to smash and escaped with the monies contained within a blue plastic bag - which they then dropped in the street. They then ran towards Ravensbourne Road and were seen to get into a green VW Golf convertible containing a fourth male.
Vigilance learnt the vehicle was spotted by police almost immediately and pursued by police and stopped in the Brangbourne Estate where all four occupants fled. Semo was detained immediately, next to the getaway vehicle and arrested. Jarrett was detained in a rear garden nearby and arrested.
The Police spokesperson said Thomas-Bassir was arrested approximately 40 minutes after the robbery when he telephoned police stating his VW Golf convertible had been stolen in a carjacking. He stated he was currently in Bromley Hill a short distance from where the vehicle had been abandoned. Police attended where they arrested him, as his clothing matched that of one of the suspects.
The fourth suspect, the 17 year old boy was said to have remained outstanding, but was arrested after DNA taken from discarded clothing and a mobile phone identified him. He was arrested at his home address on 4 January 2011.
Detective Constable, Chris Rogers, from the Flying Squad, said: "I am pleased with the sentence handed down to this group of criminals who thought nothing of using a gun to influence their demands. The Flying Squad remains committed to tackling this type of criminality, we are pleased that this group has been taken off the streets of London."