Criminal gang sentenced for smash-and-grab robberies

Seven men have been sentenced to a total of 22 years following a Met Police investigation into a series of seven smash-and-grab robberies.

The criminal network targeted high-value stores, taking more than £100,000 of luxury goods over a four-month period in 2025.

The seven arrests came following a fast-paced Flying Squad investigation, where officers followed CCTV enquiries and identified suspects through forensic analysis to identify the suspects and bring them to justice.

The Met continues to robustly respond to raids on shops - and recognises the real impact these have on businesses and their communities. Across London, robbery offences have dropped by 6.9 per cent over the last year. Burglary offences are down by 10.5 per cent over the same period.

Detective Chief Inspector Scott Mather, from the Met's Flying Squad, said: "We realise these attacks on luxury stores have had a significant impact on business owners and the communities around them.

"Our detectives worked quickly, establishing common patterns between the attacks to link them to one criminal network. Forensic analysis and fast-paced CCTV enquiries were then able to identify the suspects.

"This is a clear message to anyone who thinks they can carry out smash-and-grab raids in London - we will identify you, we will track you down and we will bring you to justice."

The investigation

The criminal network carried out raids on seven high-value stores, robbing them of more than £100,000 in 2025.

1. At 03.45hrs on Thursday, 8 May a blue Ford Fiesta was rammed the doors of a luxury clothes store on Sloane Street, Kensington, three times. Three suspects entered the venue and stole £8,350 worth of designer goods before making off in a silver Mercedes getaway car and a motorcycle.
   
   
2. At 03.50hrs on Monday, 30 June two men smashed the window of a café on St John's Wood High Street, Westminster. They stole a safe containing over £1,000 in cash.
   
   
3. At 16.15hrs on Tuesday, 1 July two men with sledgehammers smashed the windows of a jewellers on Edgeware Road, Westminster. They stole £59,930 worth of watches and jewellery.
   
   
4. At 03.10hrs on Sunday, 13 July two men broke down the front door of a retail store on Kensington Church Street, Kensington. They stole a number of items, where the value and damage totalled more than £10,000.
   
   
5. At 03.30hrs on Monday, 21 July a man used a sledgehammer to smash the doors of a watch shop on Duke Street, Westminster. He smashed the cabinets before fleeing empty handed.
   
   
6. At 03.04hrs on Sunday, 27 July, a man smashed the front of a fine art shop on Marylebone High Street, Westminster. Two paintings were stolen.
   
   
7. At 04.37hrs on Tuesday, 5 August, a man unsuccessfully tried to smash the front door of a beauty store with a brick before fleeing the scene.

Officers used extensive CCTV enquiries to trace stolen vehicles used as getaway vehicles in the attacks, including a Jaguar XE and a white Peugeot 5008.

This combined with intensive forensic work, which identified suspects and allowed police to put together the events of the evening.

Following the arrests of the first suspects, officers further analysed digital devices to unravel the criminal network, successfully bringing about the seven convictions.

Christopher Gibbs, Lee James McCready, Matthew Windrass, George O'Hare and Anthony Munday were located and arrested in a series of raids on Tuesday, 5 August coordinated by the Flying Squad and including officers from across the Met and Thames Valley Police.

Paul Hughes and David Rigelsford were arrested and charged on Monday, 29 September and Wednesday, 29 October.

The seven defendants previously pleaded guilty. They were sentenced on Tuesday, 17 March at Kingston Crown Court.

1. Christopher Gibbs, 43 (06.02.1983), of Talbot Road, Bayswater, was convicted of four counts of burglary on Sloane Street, St John's Wood High Street, Duke Street and Marylebone High Street and one of attempted burglary on Marylebone High Street. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment.
   
   
2. George O'Hare, 37 (14.01.1989), of Wormholt Road, Wormholt, was convicted of one count of burglary on Sloane Street, possession of Class A drugs and breach of a serious crime prevention order. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment.
   
   
3. Paul Hughes, 42 (17.04.1983), of Grendon Street, Church Street, was convicted of two counts of burglary on Sloane Street and St John's Wood High Street. He was also convicted of an unrelated robbery. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment.
   
   
4. Anthony Munday, 40 (28.08.1985), of Harrow Road, Hyde Park, was convicted of one count of burglary on Edgeware Road. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment (suspended for two years) and 150 hours unpaid work.
   
   
5. Lee McCready, 45 (27.01.1981), of Grand Junction Place, Uxbridge, was convicted of one count of burglary on Edgeware Road. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment.
   
   
6. Matthew Windrass, 50 (17.01.1976), of Park Crescent, Ascot, was convicted of one count of burglary on Edgeware Road. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment.
   
   
7. David Rigelsford, 37 (01.06.1988), of Denmark Road, Kilburn, was convicted of two counts of burglary on Kensington Church Street and Duke Street. He was sentenced to three years and nine months' imprisonment.