Three men have been jailed for a combined 14 years and 10 months for their involvement in a series of high-value smash-and-grab robberies targeting luxury fashion stores across London, the Metropolitan Police has said.
The organised gang carried out five raids over three months, using stolen vehicles to ram or gain access to designer shops in prominent shopping districts, including Bond Street and Sloane Square. The stolen merchandise and damage caused to the businesses were valued at more than £1 million.
The targeted retailers included Yves Saint Laurent (YSL), Bottega Veneta, END Clothing and Loro Piana.
According to the Metropolitan Police, the gang would arrive at the stores in vehicles, seize as many expensive items as possible and flee before officers could intervene.
During a raid on a luxury retailer on December 16, 2025, the group stole more than 105 items, including handbags, clothing and boots. The haul, which included a coat valued at more than £30,000, was worth nearly £385,000.
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad used CCTV footage, Automatic Number Plate Recognition data and forensic evidence to identify those involved. Investigators also traced the suspects across London despite their use of stolen vehicles and mopeds to evade detection.
The investigation uncovered links between the suspects and vehicles used in the raids. DNA recovered at a crime scene was identified as belonging to Max Tyson, while one vehicle used to ram a shop was insured to Olivier Ndayizeie.
Further enquiries led detectives to a shop in Cornwall, where Tyson had travelled in an apparent attempt to avoid detection. Officers discovered receipts bearing his name showing that stolen goods had been resold to the business for thousands of pounds.
Investigators also found messages indicating that the gang sometimes sold stolen merchandise for a fraction of its retail value. In one instance, Tyson reportedly received just £1,800 for items worth more than £30,000.
Police arrested Max Tyson and Ryan Brough on January 23, 2026, the date of the final robbery. Sonny Stringer was arrested three days later, while Harry Johnson and Olivier Ndayizeie were arrested on February 10.
The five defendants were sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on October 29, 2026, after admitting various offences connected to the criminal operation.
Tyson, 26, of St Peters Street, Islington, and Brough, 34, of Courtney Road, Islington, each received six years and five months in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit burglary.
Johnson, 25, of Tilney Gardens, Islington, was jailed for one year and 10 months after pleading guilty to handling stolen goods.
Stringer, 29, of Essex Road, Islington, received a 22-month prison sentence suspended for 24 months after admitting handling stolen goods.
Ndayizeie, 36, of Freegrove Road, Islington, was given a 36-week prison sentence suspended for one year after pleading guilty to encouraging or assisting an offence.
Detective Constable Will Wigzell of the Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad said the robberies had caused significant financial and emotional harm to businesses, employees and surrounding communities.
He described the offences as brazen and carefully planned, noting that the gang had used stolen vehicles and mopeds in attempts to avoid arrest.
Wigzell said the sentences marked a significant milestone in the investigation and demonstrated the force’s commitment to pursuing organised groups responsible for smash-and-grab robberies.
The Metropolitan Police also reported that neighbourhood crime across London fell by 15.6 per cent in the last financial year, representing more than 40,000 fewer offences. The force attributed the decline largely to reductions in theft from persons, vehicle crime and personal robbery.
The police said they would continue targeting offences that cause substantial harm to businesses and communities, including ram raids and organised retail theft.
