Man jailed for Haringey robberies

A man responsible for a mini crime wave in Haringey has been jailed.

Abdifatah Yusuf, 22 (8.5.90), a student from Woodside Road N22, appeared at Wood Green Crown Court on Monday 8 April 2013 where he was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.

Yusuf had appeared at Wood Green Crown Court on 4 March 2013 where he pleaded guilty to carrying out the offences – three robberies and two burglaries – four of which centred around the Harringay (correct spelling) Ladder area of Haringey.

He was subsequently sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for each count of burglary, to run concurrently, and 4 years for each count of robbery, to run concurrently to each other but consecutively to the sentence for burglary.

This means he is jailed for a total of five years.

Yusuf was initially arrested on suspicion of burglary on 6 November 2012 when patrolling officers spotted him climbing through a window of an address in Warham Road N4.

Forensic evidence further identified Yusuf as a suspect for a burglary in Allison Road N8 on 4 November 2012, where a phone, computer and purse had been taken.

Yusuf was charged with both offences and kept in custody to appear at Tottenham Magistrates’ Court on 8 November 2012.

Yusuf was arrested again on Sunday 11 November 2012 after officers responded to a robbery in the vicinity of Clonmell Road N17 at about 07.00hrs. A 65-year-old woman had been robbed of her bag at knife point, by a man wearing a red hooded top and camel colour trousers – now known to be Yusuf.

Concerned for the woman’s welfare and security, especially as her keys had been taken, officers took her home, where they saw a man matching the description of the robbery suspect walking up to the victim’s house. The officers stopped him to find that he had the victim’s house keys, as well as property in various people’s names, including a money transfer slip with the victim’s address on.

Abdifatah Yusuf was arrested on suspicion of robbery. Investigating officer, T/DC Will Vines of Haringey Borough’s Aquisitive Crime Unit, identified two robberies that had taken place the previous day, where the description of the suspect’s clothing matched that worn by Yusuf and the victim’s names matched those on a gym card and oyster card found on Yusuf when he was arrested.

Those offences were:

On Saturday 10 November 2012 at approximately 16.40hrs, a 59 year-old woman was in Frobisher Road N8 when a man, now known to be Yusuf, came up behind her and grabbed her bag. The woman tried to hold onto her bag but Yusuf pulled it from her with such force that she fell to the ground.

Just a couple of hours later, at about 19.00hrs, a 48 year-old woman was robbed of her phone and Oyster card in Falkland Road N8. During the robbery, the suspect, now known to be Yusuf, pushed a lit cigarette into the victim’s cheek, causing a small burn mark.

Yusuf was charged with all three robbery offences and kept in custody to appear at Haringey Magistrates’ Court, Bishops Road N6 on 12 November 2012. From which time he was remanded at prison awaiting Crown Court proceedings.

T/DC Vines said: “During his crime spree, Yusuf targeted lone older women within a specific residential area. I believe that if it was not for the diligent and collective efforts of the police, Yusuf would have continued to commit violent offences.

“The officers’ response to all of the incidents illustrates the seriousness with which police in Haringey treat burglary and robbery.”