Five men charged with smash-and-grab raids inside Brent Cross shopping centre

Five men have been charged following a smash-and-grab raid at two jewellers inside Brent Cross shopping centre yesterday morning.

Marius Oprea, 29, Leonard Nastase, 24, Stefan Asproiu, 39, Costinel Calapod, 25, and 29-year-old Gabriel Teodor Straca are accused of using sledge hammers and pick axes to smash the windows of Goldsmiths and Ernest Jones at around 2.30am.

All five, of no fixed abode, appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court today and have been remanded in custody to appear at Kingston Crown Court on June 1.

Detectives from the Met’s Flying Squad based at Putney are investigating the robbery.