Police Scotland have joined forces with police in England to target a gold robbery gang who have been robbing the homes of wealthy Asian families. The gang, operating from a base in the Newcastle area, is believed to have carried out robberies south of the border as well.
Joint investigation launched
The North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) is carrying out a joint investigation with Police Scotland to snare the gang. NEROCU operates across three police force areas - Northumbria, Cleveland and Durham - to tackle serious and organised crime. The area where the gang is believed to be based is covered by Northumbria Police.
A NEROCU spokesperson said: “NEROCU are working with Northumbria Police and Police Scotland to establish any links between burglaries in both regions.”
Cross-border raids
A source said: ”The Newcastle area would be an ideal base to carry out robberies in places like Glasgow, as you can be there and back in a few hours and use different routes to escape detection. Northumbria is also handy for robberies south of the border because of the quick and easy access across the motorway network.”
In the most recent raids, the robbery gang targeted 10 luxury homes in Whitecraigs, where properties can sell for £1 million and more. The robberies in Whitecraigs all happened on three streets between February and July this year, which the victims asked not to be named.
Gang tactics
Video footage shows the burglars wearing normal casual clothing to avoid attracting attention. They then carry out their crimes in broad daylight in full view of security cameras and Ring doorbell cameras. The gang watch to ensure the house is empty, before arriving in a BMW or Mercedes car, clad in balaclavas and wearing gloves.
A getaway driver usually remains with the car while the rest of the gang, usually around four, force entry. They then head to the bedrooms where they know occupants keep valuables. They look mainly for gold, jewellery, expensive watches and cash, ignoring other valuables or personal effects, looting items worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Victim's account
A wealthy retired businessman, who asked not to be named, spoke in August of his shock at falling victim to the gang. He said: “My wife went out at 1.15pm and they must have been watching the house. We believe they followed her to ensure she wouldn’t be back in a short time and then struck. Our cameras captured them arriving at 1.35pm and leaving at 1.42pm. Police, who’d been alerted by the alarm company, raced over but still got here 10 minutes later.”
He added: “All the drawers in the bedrooms were ransacked and they eventually found my safe, which they threw over the bannister on to the ground floor before carrying it away with them. We lost gold, cash and watches. My wife’s valuable jewellery, which had been handed down in the family over generations, as is our tradition, is also gone. They were all wearing gloves and their faces were covered. They were very well organised, like in the movies. And if they see anyone in the house, they abort their mission. We’ve captured images of their getaway car but they keep changing their licence plates.”
Arrest made
Last night Police Scotland announced one man had been arrested in connection with the robberies and is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday. A 36-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with a number of high-value housebreakings across Scotland. The incidents happened at various addresses in the Edinburgh, Glasgow, Midlothian, West Lothian and East Renfrewshire. The man was arrested in the Newcastle area.
A team of Scots detectives are working with other UK forces as part of the nationwide Operation Virion. Detective Superintendent David MacGregor said: “Whenever a home is broken into, the impact on the householder, their families and the local community is significant. We are very aware that many of the items stolen have a significant sentimental value as well as financial value. Our enquiries remain ongoing into this series of housebreakings. We are determined to disrupt the activity of those involved and will do everything in our power to bring them to justice.”
History of similar crimes
Robbery gangs have been targeting families of Asian and Chinese descent across Scotland for their gold and jewellery for almost a decade. In 2017, around 44 break-ins were reported in the west of Scotland, with more than £600,000 worth of cash and valuables stolen. Most of the thefts happened in Newton Mearns on the south-side of Glasgow and Robroyston on the north east side of the city.
There was a further 35 robberies in 2019 when more than £500,000 worth of gold and cash was stolen over a six month period between April and October in Glasgow, Paisley, Renfrew, Ayrshire and Edinburgh. In one raid an 11-year-old girl was threatened when masked men stole jewellery and cash from a property in Ardrossan, Ayrshire. The robbers also took presents, documents, passports and cash. In another break-in gold and jewellery worth more than £27,000 was stolen from a house in Bathgate, West Lothian. There was also a second robbery in nearby Armadale on the same night, when gold jewellery was also taken. A further raid in September that year tens of thousands of pounds of cash and jewellery was stolen from a family home in Renfrew.
In August 2021, 14 Asian homes had been targeted, with £200,000 worth of jewellery stolen within 11 days. Home owners in Beith, Bathgate, Stranraer, Cambuslang, Paisley, East Kilbride and Glasgow fell victim with gold, jewellery and watches taken. In February 2024, burglars were caught on camera as they robbed a family in Kirkcaldy, Fife. One man can be seen holding a crowbar in the footage, while carrying what appeared to be a black safe in his other hand. Another man, wearing red gloves, is seen clutching a knife. The CCTV footage then shows the robbers speeding off in a black Mercedes and white BMW that had been parked in the driveway.
