Robbers in burkas are foiled ... because they didn’t walk like women
TWO robbers who disguised themselves in burkas to raid a pawnbrokers were caught after passersby noticed they ‘did not walk like women’.
Armed with a fake gun, Michael Lindo, 34, and Aaron Dumetz, 24, struck as staff prepared to open the shop.
They forced one woman to open a security room safe and stole jewellery and cash in various currencies worth £64,000.
But members of the public who saw them in the traditional fulllength Islamic garments were alerted by their manly gait and raised the alarm.
Police arrived within seconds and chased the pair as they fled from the Harvey & Thompson shop in Brixton, South London.
The unarmed officers who caught them after a brief pursuit were praised for their bravery in confronting them without knowing their gun was an imitation.
Jailing Lindo and Dumetz for a total of 20 years at Inner London Crown Court yesterday, a judge described the robbery in May as ‘professional’. Judge Nic Madge said the raid would have involved Jailed: Michael Lindo, 34 reconnaissance and careful planning to acquire the burkas and a fake firearm. He added that it would have been difficult to iden- tify the robbers because of their disguise if members of the public had not intervened.
The court heard Lindo had 19 previous convictions for robbery or attempted robbery, two involving firearms – a record described as ‘appalling’ by the judge.
Lindo, a football coach, and Dumetz, a trainee carpenter, both from Lambeth, admitted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent. They were jailed for 11 and nine years respectively.
Detective Sergeant Gary Ferguson, of the Flying Squad, said: ‘The Lambeth police officers bravely followed the two robbers from the scene and tackled them, despite not knowing at that time if the firearm was real or not.
‘These officers and the members of the public who reported the robbers’ actions to police have secured the conviction of these men and the recovery of a substantial amount of stolen jewellery and cash.’
He added: ‘Lindo, in particular, is a career criminal and this timely intervention has averted a serious threat to public safety and commercial premises.’
It is not the first time criminals have used burkas. In 2013, a notorious gang of smash-andgrab robbers – led by the nephew of Birds of a Feather star Linda Robson – raided Selfridges in Oxford Street, London, while dressed in the garments.
Five members of the gang were jailed for more than 58 years last year for the £1.5million heist.
Miss Robson’s nephew, Reece Dunford, 31, and his gang used axes and sledgehammers to crack open display cabinets and make off with watches, gems, handbags and shoes.
Dunford, who admitted ten raids on luxury stores, was jailed for 12 years last month.
During one raid, the gang fled with Rolex watches worth £300,000 from a store in London.
‘Serious threat to public safety’