Met detectives used DNA and CCTV to identify a man who staged an armed robbery at a Post Office after he cut himself while making his escape from the scene.
Rajvinder Khalon was one of five members of the same family involved in the plot, resulting in around £136,000 being stolen from the Hounslow branch.
As he fled the scene, he cut himself while climbing over a metal fence, and detectives used this evidence, as well as a huge amount of CCTV and phone data, to identify those involved and take them to court.
At around 6:30 p.m. on 1 April 2024, the Met responded to reports of an armed robbery at the Post Office on Brabazon Road.
Two women working at the branch, who were later found to be part of the conspiracy, told officers they were threatened by a man with a gun who stole £50,000, as well as the branch’s CCTV system.
An audit by the Post Office found the actual amount of money missing from the store was around £136,000.
Detectives from the Met’s Flying Squad took on the investigation and trawled through CCTV from the area around the shop to identify the suspect. They tracked him to a nearby car that was registered with Kahlon. His DNA was also found on the fence.
An analysis of his phone showed he was in regular contact with a man called Sukhvir Dhillon. Further checks revealed that Dhillon was the owner of the branch and the store it was attached to. He is also Kahlon’s cousin.
Through diligently piecing together contact between the pair ahead of the incident, it became clear the robbery was staged to steal money from the store.
Three more family members, Ramandeep Dhillon and Sunaver Dhillon, the two people working in the shop at the time and who provided the first account to police, and Mandeep Gill, were also found to be aware of the plans.
Detective Chief Inspector Scott Mather, from the Met’s Flying Squad, said, “This was a complex investigation which involved piecing together a large amount of CCTV, phone and financial data, and DNA evidence. The group had taken steps to cover their tracks, but we were still able to identify those involved, and I’m pleased our work resulted in them being brought to justice.”
Rajvinder Khalon, 41, of Great West Road, Hounslow and Sukhvir Dhillon, 38, Ramandeep Dhillon, 40, Sunaver Dhillon, 67, all of Lyne Road, Virginia Water, were found guilty at Isleworth Crown Court on Wednesday, 27 March of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, conspiracy to money launder, and conspiracy to steal from the Post Office.
Mandeep Gill, 45, also of Lyne Road, Virginia Water, was found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and conspiracy to money launder.
