Cops arrest 19 men on suspicion of plotting to commit burglaries

A gang of suspected looters were stopped in their tracks this morning before they could cause destruction in the borough.

Police swooped on 19 people loitering in West Ella Road at 12.30am who were they suspect preparing to go looting.

The men, aged between 18 and 30-years-old, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary and are being held in police custody.

Just an hour before, officers raided an address in Church Road, Harlesden, where they found a mobile phone which contained pictures of a looted shop and jewellery.

A gold chain, matching a photo on the phone, was also found.

A man, believed to be in his late teens or early 20s, was arrested for handling stolen goods and is police custody.

Looters swooped on Double Discount Jewellers in High Street, Harlesden, on Monday at 4.30pm.

The masked gang of up to 40 people took just seconds to raid the shop which is also a pawnbrokers.

So far 768 people in London have been arrested in connection with violence, disorder and looting while 167 have been charged.