'Shoot me, not my kids', begs grandmother during terrifying raid

Police said two men and two women had been killed when the aircraft came down
Andy Hepburn/PA Wire
Daniel Omahony5 July 2017
WEST END FINAL

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A grandmother pleaded with armed burglars to “shoot me, not my kids” when a gang disguised as builders stormed their family home at gunpoint.

They threw the 69-year-old woman to the floor and tied her up alongside her son and 19-year-old grandson during the terrifying raid in Southall.

Her 84-year-old husband, who has dementia, was also threatened by the six raiders as they stole £14,000 worth of jewellery before fleeing in a Transit van.

Detectives from the Met’s Flying Squad were today investigating the burglary, at 12.10pm on June 13. The woman’s son, 43, said he opened the front door to speak to “workmen” wearing hard hats and high-visibility jackets who had parked outside.

He added: “The first one barged in and they all came rushing in. He put his hand over my mouth and another guy came and hit me on the head with a gun.

“They chucked my mum onto the floor and tied us up with tape and ransacked the house. My dad’s a dementia patient, and he didn’t know what was going on. They went in and searched him, then they were gone within five or six minutes.”

His mother, who suffers from a heart condition, said: “I said shoot me, don’t touch my children. Don’t shoot my kids. They said they wanted money and gold. I said you can go upstairs and whatever you find you can take it, but leave my kids alone.

“It was like a movie. They asked my husband ‘where’s your gold?’ He’s in a bed, why did they ask him that? That’s disgusting.”

Her grandson, 19, who was in the shower, was punched and dragged downstairs by the gang, whose van had a Firestone Tires logo. Five were described as eastern Europeans and one was black. Anyone with information should call 020 8785 8655 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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