Knife-wielding robber targeting women travelling alone in London, police warn

Public told to lock doors after five cars stolen so far by man armed with blade in borough of Newham

Police are warning women to lock their car doors if approached (AFP/Getty)

A knife-wielding robber is targeting women travelling on their own in London, police have warned.

The suspect is known to have approached victims at least seven times in under three weeks, stealing five cars so far and sparking a warning for female drivers to lock their windows and doors.

“On each occasion, the suspect has approached lone female victims who were either sitting in their cars or walking, before demanding their phones and cash,” a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said.

“On five occasions, the suspect has also stolen the victim’s car; three of the vehicles have been recovered.

“During five of the robberies, the suspect has been seen to be in possession of a knife.”

Women have sustained minor injuries in two of the robberies, but none were caused by a weapon.

The suspect for each offence has been described as a black man, aged in his 20s to 30s and of slim build.

Police said they are treating the incidents as linked but have not confirmed the same man is responsible for all robberies committed between 19 July and 6 August in the borough of Newham.

Detective Constable Jon Forster said: “Thankfully none of the victims have been seriously injured during these robberies but the aggression shown by the suspect or suspects is of concern.

“We are carrying out extensive enquiries to identify who is responsible.

“Anyone approached and threatened while they are in their car should lock their doors and drive to a place of safety where possible.”

A 32-year-old man has been arrested and bailed in connection with an offence on 19 July and enquiries continue.

The fresh spate of robberies came amid a national rise in violent crime, as police officer numbers hit a record low and the proportion of investigations ending with a suspect being charged fall to 9 per cent.

In the year to March, the number of homicides recorded by police in England and Wales rose by 12 per cent, knife crime offences were up by 16 per cent and robbery rocketed by 30 per cent.

The Metropolitan Police’s figures for London show that there were 2,886 robberies in the capital in June, up 11 per cent on the previous month.

The vast majority are for personal property, including phones, and police have been cracking down on the use of mopeds to target victims.

The home secretary, Sajid Javid, is among people targeted by moped robbers, as well as the comedian Michael McIntyre as he was waiting outside his children’s school.

Last month police said violent crime was starting to “stabilise” in the capital in the wake of a wave of street killings.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said moped robberies were among the types of crime starting to fall, adding: ““Knife crime affecting under-25s is beginning to reduce and I don't think it's just a blip. The context is violent crime in the UK has been rising since 2014/15 and in some places at a much higher rate than it has in London.”

Anyone with information on the Newham robberies is asked to contact police on 101 or visit Forest Gate police station.