Toddler Held at Knife Point in Shocking Greenwich Robbery
Two men have been found guilty of a terrifying conspiracy to rob a home in Greenwich where a toddler was threatened with a knife. The brazen attack left the family shaken and sparked a major police investigation.
Crackdown by Met’s Flying Squad
Detective Chief Inspector Laura Hillier from the Met’s Flying Squad described the case as “immensely complex,” praising officers for working day and night to crack it. She said:
“These were shocking incidents which would have been extremely traumatic for those involved. Thanks to the Flying Squad’s dedication and skill, these extremely dangerous men will be spending time behind bars.”
The Men Behind the Crime
- Kwesi Caven, 39, of Greenwich, was jailed for 16 years. He was convicted of conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary, conspiracy to commit robbery, and handling stolen goods.
- Elijah McPhee-Young, 25, of Harrow, received six and a half years for conspiracy to commit robbery and possession of a knife.
- Lewis Dormer, 38, of Lambeth, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and was sentenced to over seven years.
All three were sentenced on Friday, 13 October, at Inner London Crown Court.
Terrifying Crimes and Police Trackdown
The gang’s violent rampage began on 20 August 2020 in Mottingham, where McPhee-Young and Caven zoomed a stolen car towards a security guard carrying cash cassettes. McPhee-Young, masked and wielding a large serrated knife, threatened the guard, forcing him to drop the money. The stolen cash was grabbed and driven off.
Forensics linked the stolen vehicle to McPhee-Young, including dye splattered on the front passenger seat.
Then, on 15 November 2021, Dormer and Caven broke into a Greenwich home. They held the male resident at gunpoint, threatened his three-year-old son, and forced him to hand over £10,000 in cash. The victim was tied up with cable ties but managed to escape when his partner returned.
Police uncovered that the gang had tracked the victim’s car with a hidden tracker planted a week before the robbery, enabling them to plan the attack precisely.
Investigation Leads to Arrests
The Flying Squad launched a special surveillance operation after identifying McPhee-Young as a key suspect. Phone records and forensic evidence linked Caven to the crimes and the tracker. Dormer was identified as the getaway driver.
The trio was finally arrested in July 2022 and charged.
Thanks to relentless police work, these ruthless robbers will now pay for terrorising a family and threatening an innocent toddler.
