Burglars with knives and corrosive substance hit London homes

Metropolitan Police have said that the multiple reports of aggravated burglaries in March are believed to be linked.

In each incident the circumstances have been similar – with a group of masked men that have forced entry to residential addresses and either threatened or sprayed occupants with a corrosive substance, before fleeing.

The suspects have been described as being dressed in dark clothing and wearing balaclavas and gloves. They are believed to have fled in a dark-coloured vehicle.

Police were first called to Highfield Avenue in Brent Cross on Wednesday (March 29) at 9.14pm.

It was reported that four men had forced entry into the property before threatening the resident with a knife. An unknown substance was thrown towards the victim, a woman aged in her 40s.

A short time later at 11.40pm, police were reported that four men forced entry into  a home in Flamsted Avenue in Wembley and stole a “quantity of jewellery”.

Then on Thursday (March 30), police were called to reports of an aggravated burglary at 10.56pm at a house in Lady Margaret Road in Southall.

Officers attended and it was reported that four men had broken into the property armed with a knife and a screwdriver.

They sprayed a corrosive liquid into the face of a man who was at the address and stole a safe containing cash and jewellery.

Police are investigating the linked burglaries (Image: PA)

The man, in his 70s, was taken to hospital with facial injuries which were found not to be life-threatening or life-changing.

On Friday (March 31), four men broke into a home in Harrowdene Road in Wembley at around 8.45pm and threated a person with a liquid.

Jewellery and other items were stolen before the group fled, but no one was injured.

Police were also called to Greenford Road in Greenford that day at 9.09pm, to reports of a break in.

Three women, one in her 60s and two in their 20s, were assaulted with a corrosive substance, the Met said.

Corrosive substances were sprayed at some victims (Image: PA)

They were taken to hospital but their injuries were not life-threatening or life-changing.

Detective Sergeant Huss Ahmed, North West Command Unit, said: "Local people have been rightly concerned following a number of incidents that have been reported online and on social media. We of course share that concern.

"We can confirm we are treating five incidents across Harrow and Ealing as linked.

"We are advising local people to be vigilant but not alarmed - stay alert to your surroundings at night, keep doors locked and windows closed, and monitor any doorbell and security camera systems to check on any suspicious activity.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC with information, ref CAD8586/30Mar.