Boy called police as burglars held relatives captive
Twelve-year-old hid phone in pocket as gang raided home and attacked grandfather using spray
A BOY managed to call the police while a gang of burglars held his grandparents and sister captive, his family said last night.
The 12-year-old rang for help as a gang of four men sprayed his 81-yearold grandfather in the face with an unknown substance before raiding their home in south-east London for valuables.
The four burglars broke into the house, on a private estate in Chislehurst, at around 6.30pm on March 5 while the family were in the house.
After initially ringing the doorbell and getting no answer, they used a crowbar to smash their way into the detached property through the patio doors. Once inside, one of the men grabbed the 12-year-old boy from the lounge and dragged him through the hallway to where the rest of the family were sitting.
The gang then searched the house, with one of them forcing his sister, 14, upstairs to look for valuables. It was at this time that the boy was able to get hold of a phone and call the police.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph last night the boy’s father said his son had managed to put the phone in his pocket during the raid. He said: “He got the phone in his pocket and passed it to my mum who called me. My son also called the police when the men went upstairs.
“I was at work when I got the call, but when I got home the men had gone. My son did so well to have quick thinking. They are all OK, which is what I am just thankful for.” As soon as the suspects were aware that police had been called, the men filled the girl’s black school bag with jewellery before running off. They are believed to have driven from the property in a silver Mercedes.
The suspects are described as four stocky white men, with Irish accents, aged in their mid-20s. They all wore matching Converse All Star-style trainers, baseball caps and Puffa-style jackets. The father, who wished to remain anonymous, added that among the items stolen were family heirlooms.
“We’re all doing okay but we obviously weren’t expecting it and it was a big shock,” he said. “Some of the items did have significance to the family, but that can all be replaced. I am just happy everyone is okay.”
Detectives believe the same men are responsible for a number of burglaries in the Chislehurst area, in which the properties have been broken into through the rear after the doorbell was rung.