A group of masked burglars has been linked to more than 50 burglaries, aggravated burglaries and attempted break-ins across north London, Hertfordshire and parts of the Home Counties since the beginning of September, according to a former Metropolitan Police detective.
David McKelvey, a former Met detective chief inspector who now heads private investigation firm TM Eye, said his investigators had identified a pattern connecting the offences.
The raids have targeted affluent residential areas, including Hampstead and Highgate, with the suspects allegedly stealing cash, jewellery, luxury watches and other valuables, as well as vehicle keys.
Masked Men Capture Homes on Doorbell Camera
Footage from one of the incidents in Grange Park, Enfield, shows three masked men forcing their way into a property on October 2.
The recording begins with one man repeatedly striking the front door with a crowbar.
After breaking the glass, he appears to reach through the damaged panel in an attempt to open the door from inside.
A second man then approaches and sprays a substance across the doorstep before a third suspect joins him.
The men repeatedly kick the door until it gives way, with a dog heard barking as they enter the property.
The suspects were reportedly travelling in a blue BMW displaying false registration plates.
They allegedly took the keys to a Mercedes valued at around £100,000 that was parked outside the home.
Investigators Suspect Separate Teams Are Operating
McKelvey said he believed the group consisted of Irish Traveller offenders operating in at least three teams, with each team comprising around three or four men.
According to his investigation, the suspects can target as many as 15 properties in a single day, excluding Sundays, before returning to Traveller sites.
TM Eye became involved after its sister private security company, My Local Bobby, began encountering incidents in neighbourhoods where it conducts residential patrols.
The private investigators have also linked the group to six stolen vehicles.
They believe offenders initially travel in legitimate taxed and insured cars before switching to stolen vehicles fitted with counterfeit number plates during burglary operations.
Ammonia Suspected in Efforts to Remove Evidence
Investigators believe the substance sprayed during at least one raid was ammonia, which they suspect may have been used to remove or destroy DNA evidence.
The stolen vehicles are also believed to have been treated with ammonia before being concealed, according to McKelvey.
The suspects are then thought to have left the area using other vehicles.
The alleged use of stolen cars, false registration plates and attempts to remove forensic evidence have led investigators to describe the offenders as experienced and organised.
Early Incidents Were Reported in Highgate
One of the earliest offences attributed to the group allegedly took place in Highgate on September 11, when burglars entered a property occupied by a mother and her children.
The same area saw a series of incidents later that month.
Five burglaries or attempted burglaries were reported in Highgate on September 30, while two others were recorded there the previous night.
McKelvey said his investigators had also connected the suspects to offences elsewhere across north London, Hertfordshire and the Thames Valley, including a night in which 15 incidents were allegedly committed.
Private Security Patrols Encounter Suspects
My Local Bobby officers have reportedly encountered the suspected burglars during residential patrols.
In two incidents, McKelvey said the suspects left the area after private security officers arrived.
In another case, the alleged offenders fled after being confronted by a homeowner who was inside the property.
No injuries have been reported in connection with the series of burglaries.
Former Detective Raises Concerns Over Previous Convictions
McKelvey said some of the suspects could have links to earlier burglary investigations conducted by his team in 2022 and 2023.
He alleged that information provided by his investigators previously contributed to the conviction of several burglars and claimed that at least two people subsequently released under an early-release scheme could be among those currently suspected.
He also said two suspects were believed to have convictions for similar offences as recently as 2024, while another was allegedly a man who absconded from an open prison earlier this year.
These claims have not resulted in arrests in connection with the latest offences.
Police Reject Claims That Burglary Is Not Being Taken Seriously
McKelvey criticised the Metropolitan Police’s decision to dismantle dedicated burglary squads, arguing that experienced detectives had been moved to other policing units.
He also claimed that the latest series of offences was not initially treated with sufficient urgency and said his company had sought intervention from the office of London Mayor Sadiq Khan while sharing intelligence with the Met.
The Metropolitan Police said it recognised the seriousness of burglary offences and remained committed to identifying those responsible.
A force spokesman said officers were investigating a number of burglaries and attempted burglaries reported across north London in September and October.
Detectives are assessing available evidence and intelligence to establish whether the incidents are connected.
Police also said experienced investigators use a range of investigative methods and regularly work with other forces when offences cross county boundaries.
Investigation Continues With No Arrests Reported
The Met has asked anyone with information that could assist the investigation to contact police on 101.
At the time of the report, no arrests had been made in connection with the series of burglaries.
