Police are investigating

Haringey police issue cover-up plea after necklace robberies

by Stephen Moore Monday, September 3, 2012
11:23 AM

The hot weather in recent weeks has lead to police urging people to cover up - after a spate of necklace snatches and attempted snatches.

There were seven incidents reported in five days in mid-August as temperatures finally rose, with an eighth just three days later.

A 76-year-old woman was lucky to keep her gold chain when a black male aged about 17 tried to grab it from her neck shortly after noon in Oulton Road on August 15.

Less than an hour later in Willoughby Road, Harringay, another gold chain robbery was foiled, this time on a 65-year-old woman, when a black male on a bicycle aged about 17 tried to grab her jewellery.

A 30-year-old woman walking with her three-year-old son was the third victim at 1.40pm, in Creighton Road, Tottenham. A black man aged 25 to 30 grabbed a gold chain from her neck.

The next day at 10am a white man aged about 18, riding a bicycle, wrenched a gold chain from the neck of a 32-year-old woman pushing her baby in a pram in West Green Road, South Tottenham.

At 7pm the same day in Worcester Avenue, Tottenham, a black man aged 20 to 30 on a bicycle grabbed a gold chain from the neck of a 37-year-old woman.

Two days later on August 18 in St Loys Road, Tottenham, a 76-year-old woman had her gold chain taken from her neck at 3pm by a black boy aged 16 to 18.

The next day at 2.20pm in Forster Road, Tottenham, a black boy aged 16 to 18 on a bicycle grabbed a gold chain from a 42-year-old woman.

A 33-year-old woman was also targeted for her gold chain in Risley Avenue, Tottenham, at 7pm on August 22, by a black male, aged 16 to 19, who got away with the jewellery.

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of robbery regarding the Oulton Road incident, but police are urging vigilence.

Det Sgt Noel Stoddart, of Haringey aquisitive crime unit, said: “The increasing value of gold makes it an obvious target and summer clothing means that it is easier for opportunist thieves to spot and grab.

She added: “We’re doing everything that we can to identify those responsible.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the unit on 020 8345 0870, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.