Group jailed for series of violent watch thefts in Barnet UK News

Three people who committed a series of violent watch thefts in Barnet have been jailed for a total of 26 years.

Andre Sinclair, Ashley King and Layla DaSilva contacted six men who had listed their high-value watches online between December 2019 and January 2020.

In each case, DaSilva posed as the “buyer” of the watch and arranged to meet with the sellers in a public place in Golders Green.

At the last moment an apology was made and the location changed to a secluded spot near the original meeting point.

Upon arrival at the scene, King and Sinclair would be on the lookout.

Each time, the victim was assaulted and / or threatened with a weapon before having his watch taken.

The first incident happened on December 11, 2019 and involved a 35-year-old man being pushed to the ground before his bag, which contained a watch, was stolen. He was treated for a cut in his elbow.

Two days later, a 22-year-old man was confronted with Sinclair and King brandishing a crowbar and a knife.

No watch was stolen and the victim suffered minor bruising.

On December 22, 2019, a 39-year-old man was punched in the face and punched in the leg with a hammer before having his watch stolen.

The next heist did not take place until January 2, 2020, when a 25-year-old man was confronted with a gun and had his backpack with his watch stolen.

Eight days later, a 28-year-old man was threatened with a gun and punched in the face before having his watch stolen.

And then on January 16, a 29-year-old man was hit with a gun and punched in the face before having his watch stolen.

Officers from the North West Base Command Unit opened an investigation and after examining who had accessed the online advertisements, as well as the CCTV of some of the flights, were able to identify the three suspects.

During the arrest, Sinclair and DaSilva’s phones were seized. The analysis showed that they had discussed and planned the thefts before they took place.

Photos of the stolen goods were also found on their devices.

All three pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery.

Andre Sinclair, 33, of South Way, Brent, was sentenced to 11 years and nine months in prison.

Ashley King, 23, of Teignmouth Road, Brent, was sentenced to nine years and six months in prison.

Layla DaSilva, 33, of South Way, Brent was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison.

Detective Constable Matt Corbin, who led the investigation, said: “Sinclair, King and DaSilva have hatched a sinister plan to lure individuals to an isolated address to steal their valuable watches.

“They had no qualms about threatening their victims with weapons or assaulting them in order to achieve their goal.

“The sentences imposed on these individuals reflect the gravity of the crimes and we are pleased that they have now been behind bars for a long time and unable to cause further harm.

“We hope this will also remind anyone who sells high value goods online to be careful when meeting buyers and to stay in public places whenever possible.”