100 years for gang who targeted Arsenal stars
They were caught trying to steal car – full of police officers
AN armed gang that targeted top footballers was caught in the act after trying to steal a car being used by undercover police officers spying on them.
The thugs tried to smash the window with a metal bar, unaware that it had been fitted with reinforced glass.
Meanwhile, undercover officers inside called for backup from the Flying Squad and a police helicopter. The masked raiders, who had carried out a burglary 30 minutes earlier, fled as police arrived and chased them across north London before arresting them at a flat full of weapons last July.
The eight-strong gang was jailed on Tuesday for a total of more than 100 years.
It can now be revealed they terrorised well-heeled neighbourhoods in north London, targeting millionaires and sports stars including former Arsenal footballer Mesut Ozil and his teammate Sead Kolasinac.
One of the raiders Jordan Northover, 28, and an accomplice ambushed the pair as Ozil parked outside Kolasinac’s home in a £165,000 gold-trimmed Mercedes G-Class 4x4 on July 25, 2019.
The mugger jabbed at Kolasinac with a long knife, coming within an inch of slashing his face as he tried to steal his £200,000 watch.
But the Bosnian defender fought back, swinging punches at Northover who fled on a moped with his accomplice.
Police revealed yesterday that Northover was part of a gang led by Patrick Delaney, 30, who carried out scores of robberies.
Armed with zombie knives, machetes, screwdrivers, metal bars and a gun, they forced their way into expensive properties and cruised the streets targeting victims in luxury cars demanding money, jewellery and watches in Finchley, Barnet and Hampstead.
The gang, often working on mopeds in pairs, is believed to have carried out at least 20 offences between April 2019 and July 2020.
Their crimes were linked by detectives from the Met Police’s Flying Squad who placed them under surveillance, leading to the incident in which the gang tried to steal the undercover police car.
Ringleader Delaney, 30, was jailed at Harrow Crown Court yesterday for 16 years and his brother Martin, 29, for 11. Northover was jailed for a total of 18 years. Another five men received sentences of between eight and 15 years.