Armed robbers Caged For Violent Shop Raids

Two vicious teenage armed robbers, who hospitalised victims of South London convenience store raids during a ten-day rampage, have been caged.

The shopkeepers were threatened with a handgun and subjected to wholly unnecessary violence.

The mini crime-wave from March 23 to April 3 was finally ended by the Met's Flying Squad.

They are: Rahmon Wray, 18, (pic.top) of Solon Road, Clapham and Philip Nelson, 18, (pic.bottom) of Kenilford Road, Balham.

They each received a total of seven years custody for conspiracy to rob and posssession of a firearm whilst committing an indictable offence.



On Friday March 23 at 4:35pm two youths were seen arriving outside Anish Food Stores at 196 Weir Road, Balham on a cream moped.

They did a 'drive past', looking in the direction of the shop and then returned moments later.

Wray got off the moped and removed an object from under the seat.

He walked towards the door, placing the object in his waistband, whilst Nelson waited outside on the moped.

Wray entered the shop and looked around - having spotted the CCTV and security screen he walked out and got on the rear of the moped and both teens rode off.



On Sunday March 25 at 3:40pm the two attended Parsons Convenience Store at 193 Franciscan Road, Tooting.

Nelson, armed with a black handgun, threatened a male member of staff at gunpoint.

The victim offered no resistance, however Wray went behind the counter, picked up a bottle from the shelf and hit the victim over the head, causing injuries which required hospital treatment.

The suspects stole the contents of the till and cigarettes, before leaving the venue on a moped.

On Monday April 2 at 8:20am the robbers attended The Cosy Corner at 73 Emmanuel Road, Balham on a moped.

Nelson was armed with a black handgun and threatened a lone female member of staff and requested that she hand over the contents of the till and cigarettes.

Wray searched the rear of the store looking for items to steal, and then both men left the store with money and cigarettes.

On Tuesday April 3 at 12:45pm the men struck again - attending the Vale Mini Market at 134 Streatham Vale SW16 on a moped.

Wray placed a bottle on the counter as if to purchase it and then has produced a black handgun which he has used to pistol whip the victim several times over the head, causing injuries which required the victim to attend hospital.

Wray then ripped the till from the counter and left the scene on the moped.



The suspects travelled a short distance to A C A Newsagents at 110 Fernthorpe Road, Streatham at about 12:50pm.

Having entered the venue a black handgun was produced which was again used to pistol whip the male owner who offered no resistance, before stealing the contents of the till and making off on the blue moped.

The victim was also taken to hospital for his injuries.



On Friday April 13 Wray and Nelson were arrested by officers from the Flying Squad in Renmuir Street, Tooting.