Members of a ruthless organised crime gang who robbed people by squirting them with bottled sauces have been jailed.
The five gang members used distraction techniques including squirting mustard and ketchup onto the coats of their elderly victims, who had just taken cash out of the bank, whilst another gang member robbed them.
Between October 2024 and February 2025, the five offenders observed the victims collecting large amounts of money from branches in Kent, including Chatham, Dartford, Gravesend and Sevenoaks.
They then followed their victims, who were in their 60s, 70s and 80s, back to where their cars were parked. The criminals then engaged the victims in conversation while accomplices stole the cash.
Other methods used to distract the victims included placing nails and pins on the floor to either cause a puncture or encourage the victim to get out and remove the potential hazard.
