Five Jailed For Cash Van Raids

A group of five, including three teenagers, have been jailed for over 30 years over a series of robberies on cash in transit vans in Central and Northwest London.

The five males appeared at Isleworth Crown Court on Monday, where they were sentenced for a string of robberies which took place between 1 December 2010 to 27 January 2011.

The group was arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Police's Finchley Flying Squad, following a surveillance operation into a linked series of cash in transit robberies.

Initially officers identified one of the robbers after he had fed a gaming machine inside a west London bookmakers with bank notes covered in blue dye. The notes were forensically linked to a robbery occurring earlier that month.

David Carey, 25, of Holcroft Court, Clipstone Street, W1, was sentenced to six years and eight months imprisonment for Attempted Robbery and two counts of Robbery.

A 17 year-old boy from Northwest London, was sentenced to four years and eight months imprisonment for Attempted Robbery and two counts of Robbery.

Jerome Bishop-Taylor, 19, of Randolph Avenue, was sentenced to six years and eight months imprisonment for Attempted Robbery and two counts of Robbery.

Connor Ryan, also 19, of Clifford Gardens, Kensal Rise, was sentenced to five years and nine months imprisonment for Attempted Robbery and two counts of Robbery.

Aaron Pope, 21, of Fitzneal Street, Hammersmith, was sentenced to eight years imprisonment for Robbery.

Detective Sergant Neil Williamson of Finchley Flying Squad said: "This investigation has resulted in a prolific criminal network being dismantled and has positively impacted on the number of cash-in-transit robberies and burglaries. The MPS Flying Squad is committed to detecting crimes and apprehending violent criminals to make businesses and communities feel safer.

"This excellent result demonstrates our continued determination and commitment in identifying and bringing to justice those criminals that are responsible for these types of offences."

Detective Superintendent John O'Leary from the Flying squad said: "The convictions of these men came about as a result of a professional and tenacious investigation by DC Mess and his colleagues. As can be seen by the related offences their jailing will not only impact upon offences of cash in transit robbery but also burglary and motor vehicle theft which they committed to enable them to carry out those robberies.

"These are all young men and I hope their convictions will act as a deterrent to others."

(DW)