They used guns, knives, hammers and crowbars to terrorize staff before fleeing in a fleet of stolen vehicles and leaving little evidence behind. When the banknotes were stained with security paint, they laundered the cash through fixed-odds betting terminals in betting shops. They took advantage of a system that allowed punters to load a machine with up to £3,000 in cash, place a small bet and then collect their unallocated share in fresh notes from the store’s cash. They burned piles of stained banknotes and a car that was sprayed when they broke a cash box and activated the paint safety system. Armed police officers ambushed two robbers – Abdi Omar and Brooklyn McFarlane – as they were about to attack security guards at a local Sainsbury’s in Wimbledon. Omar was quickly caught, while McFarlane ran and pulled a knife and was shot by police who believed he was holding a gun. The next day he was discharged from the hospital. The gang were caught after some amazing detective work by the Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad who, from poor quality CCTV footage, managed to identify and track down one of their stolen cars and the first of the robbers who eventually led them to the rest. “The violence was extreme” Detective Superintendent Simon Moring said: “They had a well-organised gang structure. They showed a very good trade, using stolen vehicles, cloned number plates, they knew a lot about police tactics, they used good anti-surveillance techniques so they knew what they were doing. They were a tough gang. “The violence was extreme, security guards were thrown, beaten with iron bars, guns held to their heads. Fortunately no one was seriously injured. They would have just continued to commit robberies and who knows where and how it would have ended.” Image: The gang used guns to terrorize staff Image: A gang member brandishes a gun The gang attacked guards at cashpoints in London, Oxford, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, who usually gathered and traveled from an estate in South London. Armed with loaded pistols and other weapons they wore ballistic armor and balaclavas. Over 18 months they stole more than £400,000. Image: Clockwise from top left: Ola Orulebaja, Ihab Ashaoui, Adam Salman, Brooklyn McFarlane, Abdi Omar, Mahdi Hashi, Basil Abdul-Latif, Noaman Amin, Ibrahim Lyazi, David Tesfaalem Two robbers were arrested after a collision with a bus The first two robbers spotted were arrested after jumping a red light and crashing into a bus. They ran away, but were chased and caught by a team of detectives who were chasing them. While awaiting trial, the two shared a cell at Wandsworth Prison and police later discovered they had a smuggled mobile phone and were using it to coordinate more robberies committed by those yet to be arrested. Image: The first two robbers spotted were arrested after they jumped a red light and crashed into a bus The proposals In the first of two trials, Basil Abdul-Latif, 36, from South London, the gang’s leader, was jailed for 22 years for conspiracy to rob, possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and handling stolen property and arson . A second main gang member David Tesfalem, 30, from South London, was jailed for 20 years for similar offences. Ibrahim Lyazi, 29, from west London, was jailed for 18 years and two others, Ihab Ashaoui, 30, and Adam Salman, 32, were jailed for 14 years. Ola Orulebaja was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Image: The gang used guns in the robberies Image: One of the burnt cars Constable Stephen O’Connell from the Flying Squad said: “This was an extremely complex investigation involving a huge amount of evidence. The team wreaked havoc in and out of London with buildings badly damaged and high value goods stolen they steal “These men have since discovered that crime does not pay and thanks to the complex investigative work of the Flying Squad they will be spending time behind bars. Investigations are ongoing to identify and bring to justice outstanding suspects believed to be involved in these offences.” Four other men, all from south London, were awaiting sentencing today after being convicted for their roles in the robbery plot. They were: Brooklyn McFarlane and Abdi Omar, both 27, Mahdi Hassi, 29, and Noaman Amin, 26.
