Hammer-Heads Busted: Met Cracks Down on Tooting Pawnbroker Smash-and-Grab Gang
Armed Hammer Attack Shakes Pawnbrokers
A specialist Metropolitan Police unit has smashed a brutal criminal gang following a terrifying hammer attack on a Tooting pawnbrokers last October. Two of the trio behind the violent raid were sentenced to a combined nine years at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday, 26 August.
Gang Members Caught and Sentenced
- Saloum Joh, 34, of Cumberland Park, W3, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and handling stolen vehicles. He was handed four years for robbery plus six months concurrently for handling stolen goods.
- Jamal Mahmood, 30, from Eastwood Street, SW16, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and handling stolen cars, receiving four years and six months concurrently.
- Sherif El-Gazzaz, 33, of Watford Way, NW7, admitted conspiracy to commit robbery, handling stolen vehicles, and drug possession. His sentencing is pending a medical assessment.
Crime Scene Details and Investigation Breakthrough
On 4 October 2019, two masked thugs smashed their way into the Mitcham Road pawnbrokers brandishing a hammer. They shattered a glass case and made off with over £37,000 worth of jewellery, leaving employees shaken and distressed.
The gang sped off in a stolen Audi A6, which was later abandoned on Blegborough Road, Streatham.
The Met’s Specialist Crime Command launched a meticulous probe, using CCTV, phone intelligence, and forensic DNA evidence recovered from the hammer, door handles, and vehicle controls to nail the suspects.
Police Praise and Continued Commitment to Tackle Organised Crime
Detective Sergeant Michael Harding said: “This attack was the stuff of nightmares for the shop workers, who were confronted by masked men bursting into their shop armed with a hammer. The Met are committed to tackling violent organised crime and a lot of work went into tracing those responsible. I and the team are happy to see that another criminal network has been disrupted, and the streets are safer for those two being behind bars.”
