Three men jailed for more than 8 years in West End smash and grab robberies

Three men have been jailed for a combined 8 years and 6 months following a Met investigation into a series of high-value smash and grab robberies.

The gang carried out five robberies over a three-month period, targeting high-value fashion stores. The court heard that the damage they caused to shops alongside the items stolen, came to over £1 million.

The group would drive to prominent shopping destinations, including Bond Street and Sloane Square, where they used vehicles to ram high-end designer shops such as YSL, Bottega Venetta, END, and Lora Piana.

Once inside, they would grab as much as they could carry and then flea.

On Tuesday, 16 December 2025, they stole more 105 items from a luxury store including handbags, clothing, and boots. Alongside a coat that cost more than £30,000, the total value of the products stolen came to nearly £385,000.

Despite the gang using stolen vehicles to avoid detection, officers diligently tracked the offenders five miles across London. This alongside DNA evidence found at the scene was crucial in securing convictions.

Detective Constable Will Wigzell, from the Met’s Flying Squad, said:

“These robberies have a lasting impact on businesses, their staff and the wider community, affecting livelihoods as well as causing significant emotional and financial harm through the threats, violence and intimidation involved.

“This organised crime group carried out a series of brazen smash-and-grab robberies across some of London’s busiest shopping districts. They carefully planned their offences, using stolen vehicles and mopeds in an attempt to evade detection, but thanks to the determination and expertise of Flying Squad detectives, they were identified and brought to justice.

“These sentences mark a significant milestone in what has been a detailed and determined investigation. I hope they demonstrate our commitment to tackling smash-and-grab robberies in London by pursuing those involved, wherever they are.”

Flying Squad officers carried out an extensive review of CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition footage. Alongside forensic analysis they were able to prove the group used multiple stolen vehicles to carry out the offences.

Officers also uncovered that one of the vehicles used to ram a shop was insured to Olivier Ndayizeie and DNA from the scene was identified as that of Max Tyson.

Enquiries also led officers to a shop in Cornwall where Tyson had travelled hundreds of miles to avoid detection. However, his attempt to evade justice was unsuccessful as officers found receipts in his name showing stolen property had been re-sold for thousands of pounds to the shop.

The gang would often have to sell these items for significantly lower than their value. Officers uncovered messages that showed that on one occasion Tyson only received £1,800 for items worth more than £30,000.

Officers launched fast-paced enquiries to find the group and after a series of warrants arrested Max Tyson and Ryan Brough on the same day as the last robbery (Friday, 23 January). A man hunt was launched, and Sonny Stringer was arrested on Monday, 26 January.

Harry Johnson and Oliver Ndayizeie were later identified as part of the group and were arrested on Tuesday, 10 February.

They were sentenced on Friday, 29 October at Inner London Crown Court.

[A] Max Tyson, 26 (10.10.00) of St Peters Street, Islington was jailed for three years and four months, after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit burglary at the same court on Friday, 29 May.

[B] Ryan Brough, 34 (22.02.92) of Courtney Road, Islington was jailed for three years and four months, after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit burglary at the same court on Friday, 29 May.

[C] Sonny Stringer, 29 (19.12.96) of Essex Road, Islington was sentenced to a 22 months’ imprisonment suspended for 24 months, after pleading guilty to handling stolen goods at the same court on Tuesday, 23 June.

[D] Harry Johnson, 25(05.03.01) of Tilney Gardens, Islington was jailed for 1 year and 10 months, after pleading guilty to handling stolen good at the same court on Monday, 27 July.

[E] Olivier Ndayizeie, 36 (27.04.90) of Freegrove Road, Islington was sentenced to a 36 week imprisonment suspended for a year, after pleading guilty to encouraging or assisting an offence at the same court on Wednesday, 9 September.

The Met remains committed to tackling issues that have a real impact on businesses and communities – including ram raids.

Across London, neighbourhood crime dropped by 15.6 per cent in the last financial year – that's equivalent to more than 40,000 fewer offences. This was largely driven by reductions in theft from person (-21.4 per cent), vehicle crime (-13.9 per cent) and personal robbery (-13 per cent).

NOTES TO EDITOR

Footage of the arrests and robbery can be found here: https://mps.box.com/s/10r2lhi4uw6m5ec8qfaghr3z2uamzumd

0:00 - 0:04 – Attempted robbery at YSL, Bond Street on Tuesday, 11 November 2025.

0:04 – 0:15 – Robbery at Lora Piana, Sloane Street on Tuesday, 16 December 2025.

0:15-0:27 – Robbery at Bottega Veneta, Sloane Street on Monday, 17 November 2025.

0:27-0:38 – Robbery at END Clothing, Broadwick Street on Monday, 1 December 2025.

0:38-0:48- Flying Squad arrest Max Tyson on Friday, 23 January 2026.

0:48-0:58 - Warrant and arrest of Harry Johnson on Tuesday, 10 February 2026.

The dates of the offences are:

1. Attempted robbery at YSL, Bond Street on Tuesday, 11 November 2025

2. Robbery at Bottega Veneta, Sloane Street on Monday, 17 November 2025

3. Robbery at END, Broadwick street on Monday, 1 December 2025

4. Robbery at Lora Piana, Sloane Street on Tuesday, 16 December 2025

5. Robbery at YSL, Bond Street on Friday, 23 January 2026