The number of armed robberies on London restaurants dropped by one-third last year, according to the latest figures from the capital's Flying Squad, the special armed division of the Metropolitan Police that deals with robberies and kidnappings.
The main reason for the drop, from 36 robberies in 2001 to 23 in 2002, was the arrest and conviction of one particular gang which was targeting curry houses.
"In one six-month period, the number of restaurant robberies went up to 30 because there was a team of robbers going for Indian and ethnic restaurants," said Detective Constable Alan Townsend, the Flying Squad's crime prevention co-ordinator. "They did about 12 in north-west and south-west London and sent the restaurant crime figures through the roof. Then they got nicked and the figures fell."
Townsend said that restaurants tended to be vulnerable to armed robbers because they opened late and often held large amounts of cash. "They are also not particularly security-conscious," he said, "and traditionally there is no reason they needed to be."
London restaurants suffered 14 armed robberies in the last six months of 2002, nearly three times as many as pubs and wine bars, which Townsend said were often much more aware of security and therefore more difficult targets. No hotels in London reported robberies during the second half of the year.
The figures for restaurants, excluding fast-food outlets, remained the same, with 32 robberies last year, although, overall, the past 10 years have seen a rise. This is largely due to improvements in security at other targets, which have made robbers look for alternative victims.
By David Harris
How to protect your premises
* Consider locking the door and checking people before you admit them.
* Regularly empty your cash till and put the money in a safe.
* Train staff to be more aware.
For more information
* Further advice on security, including information booklets, is available from the Flying Squad on 020 7230 3729.