Pupils at schools in one of London’s most affluent neighbourhoods are being targeted by teenage gangs who rob them as they walk home.
Councillors in Highgate have called for police to step up after-school patrols to combat the “cowardly” crime spree in an area that counts Kate Moss, Jude Law and Jamie Oliver as residents.
In one incident, a boy was dragged to a cash machine and ordered to withdraw money by three muggers.
Another pupil was collared by youths who demanded he empty his pockets and threatened to beat him.
In Highgate Wood, a pupil was slapped in the face by five men and told to hand over his possessions. And local police say a boy was punched by two teenagers, one masked, after they demanded his mobile phone and threatened to stab him.
Highgate neighbourhood watch co-ordinator Cindy Jackson said: “These crimes continue because people are not getting caught. It’s out of control.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Liz Morris said: “It is clearly a cowardly crime to rob these children. We have around 4,000 children attending school in the area so I am worried Highgate has become a target for this type of crime. I am extremely concerned.”
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