Police are searching for a gang of four men who broke into a home in Chislehurst, south-east London, threatening an elderly man and children with violence. The incident occurred at around 18:00 GMT on 5 March in Cookham Dene Close, with CCTV capturing the suspects using crowbars and hammers to force entry.
The intruders, described as white, of stocky build, and speaking with Irish accents, demanded money and jewellery. One man grabbed an 11-year-old boy from the lounge and dragged him through the hallway to where the rest of the family were sitting, according to police.
A victim managed to call a family member, who alerted police, prompting the raiders to stuff jewellery into a teenage girl's school bag and flee in a silver Mercedes. The suspects, believed to be in their mid-20s, wore matching Converse All Star-style trainers, baseball caps, and puffer jackets.
Separate footage released by police shows a gang stealing a safe filled with watches and jewellery from a property in Forest Ridge, Keston, on Wednesday. The safe was dragged through the property before being loaded into a car boot.
Det Con Ben Briselden said: "This was a terrifying burglary where a family were at home enjoying their evening and were threatened, and attacked, by four men who then stole their most valued possessions, which were of great sentimental value." The gang is thought to be linked to a series of burglaries in the area.
