Model was key member of 'burkha' smash and grab gang

Gang who targeted designer stores wearing burkas and armed with axes and sledge hammers stole millions


Model Hollie Dowding, a key member of 'burka' smash and grab gang

A model was a key member of a smash and grab gang who wore burkhas to raid London's top department stores, including £1.5 million from Selfridges.

The gang was responsible for 10 raids on fashion houses, including Prada, Jimmy Choo and Alexander McQueen's warehouse.


They were also behind the £1.5 million raid on Selfridges in June 2013 when the gang forced their way in to the Oxford Street store wearing burkas and armed with sledgehammers, Scotland Yard said.

"Untouchable" Reece Dunford, 31, the nephew of Birds of a Feather star Linda Robson, faces up to seven years in jail after pleading guilty to plotting up to 10 raids across London.


He was involved in every robbery and was caught after hand-picking a team of four to carry out a raid on Mappin and Webb in the City of London in April last year armed with axes and sledge hammers.


The 'burkha' smash and grab gang caught on CCTV

The gang initially escaped with over £300,000 worth of Rolex watches, before they were tracked down by police and arrested.

It was following the arrests that police uncovered the extent of the gang and their connections to 10 incidents dating back to 2007.

Dunford's girlfriend, model and beautician Hollie Dowding, 25, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiracy to handle stolen goods from raids on Prada and Jimmy Choo.

The gang will be sentenced at the end of the month.

Four of the gang were found guilty for their part in the raids at Kingston Crown Court today, while five others had already pleaded guilty to their involvement.

The gang was responsible for two raids at Prada in Old Bond Street in October and November 2013 when the shutters were forced open and £20,000 of handbags were stolen, another at Jimmy Choo in March 2014 when gang members stole £22,000 worth of handbags and at Alexander McQueen's warehouse in Islington in November 2007 when laptops, clothing and handbags worth £50,000 were taken.


Top left to right Reece Dunford, David Mays, Vincent Kamara, Danny St Luce. Bottom row, Hollie Dowding, Yair Cohen, Patrick Spencer O'Brien and Boz Burbridge who have been convicted of 'smash and grab' raids in central London

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Simon Davison of the Flying Squad, said: "These smash and grabs were aggressive. Sometimes, the robbers threatened innocent people with sledgehammers and axes in order to get to the goods.

"Dunford was involved in every incident in one way or another and clearly started to think he was untouchable. These convictions are proof that the Flying Squad will relentlessly pursue anyone who tries to make a living from crimes like these."

Dunford, built up a reputation for handling high-value stolen goods and sold them on to buyers, including Hatton Garden jeweller Yair Cohen, 71, of Hackney.

Reece Dunford, of Essex, 31, pleaded guilty to seven counts of conspiracy to handle stolen goods, one count of conspiracy to rob, two counts of conspiracy to burgle and one count of conspiracy to produce Class B drugs, Boz Burbridge, 31, of Camden, David Mays, 33, of Bexley, and Danny St Luce, 29, of Islington, all pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to rob.

Yair Cohen, 71, of Hackney, was found guilty of three counts of handling stolen goods, one count of converting criminal property and one count of money laundering and Rusudan Kritcheli, 49, from Hackney, was found guilty of converting criminal property and one count of money laundering.

Vincent Kamara, 28, of Camden, and Patrick Spencer O'Brien, 23, from Islington were both found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery.