Woman in car is slashed as moped gang terrorises a family of four
MOPED muggers terrorised a family of four when they attacked the group as they sat in their car in broad daylight, it was revealed yesterday.
A 30-year-old woman was slashed across the hand as one of the masked robbers ripped off her bracelet.
She, two women in their 70s and a 66-year-old man were sitting in a car when the thieves pulled up next to them on a silver motorbike.
All four were threatened with a large knife and ordered to hand over their jewellery, said Scotland Yard.
The attack happened in Coulsdon, south London, around 5.45pm on Friday. Detectives are appealing for information.
Crimes involving crooks on motorbikes or scooters are now running at about 60 a day in London despite police pledges to crack down on violent crime in the capital.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “A family of four adults were stationary in a car on Keats Way in Coulsdon when two males rode towards them on a silver moped.
“One of the males threatened the occupants of the car with a large knife and demanded that they hand over jewellery. It is believed that the second suspect also had a knife.
“A 30-year-old woman sustained a cut to her hand as one of the suspects attempted to take her bracelet. The other occupants of the car, all of whom are related, were a 66-year-old man and two women aged in their 70s. The suspects made off with a small quantity of jewellery.”
The spokesman added: “The suspects are described as two white males, aged in their late teens or early 20s.
“Both were of slim build and wore dark-coloured tracksuits, black crash helmets and face masks.”
The scourge of moped robbers, highlighted by a Daily Express crusade, has added more pressure to Britain’s biggest police force.
On Saturday, we reported how Prime Minister Theresa May is supporting plans for a new law to enable officers to pursue crooks on motorbikes and other vehicles without fear of being prosecuted for dangerous driving.
She spoke out in a week when the moped menace was highlighted by a brazen attack on the comedian Michael McIntyre on Monday. He was driving with his 10-year-old son to school in Hampstead, north London, when two muggers on a motorbike robbed him of his £15,000 Rolex watch.
Shortly afterwards, a 24-yearold woman was left fighting for her life after she suffered a catastrophic head injury in a moped mugging in Edgware, north London.
Two youths, aged 17 and 19, have appeared in court charged with the Edgware robbery. They will appear again at Harrow Crown Court next month.