Gang's haul tops £2m
Detective Inspector Chris Byrne of Marylebone Police is the officer heading the investigation into the so-called Rolex robbers.
He said that a characteristic of many attacks is that the wealthy victims are identified in the West End from their expensive cars and then they are followed home.
Detectives believe the robbers have a network of criminal contacts who can sell on the jewels they steal - possibly abroad - to dealers or individuals not prepared to question their source.
In Belgravia and Kensington, detectives are seeking a gang of machete-wielding robbers who have netted more than £2million in jewellery, watches and cash from the homes of London businessmen.
The gang's raids came to light after the former lover of rock legend Billy Fury had £500,000 worth of jewels stolen.
Four masked thieves threatened to kill the property heiress and music publisher Lisa Voice and her two young children during the raid, at her St John's Wood mansion. Detectives believe it is the same gang that has carried out at least five other robberies.
Mr Byrne said: "These are all particularly violent robberies where the victims were attacked in their own homes.
"What is probably most disturbing about them is the fact that the suspects appear to be following the victims home from central London clubs and bars. They appear to be a highly organised group targeting jewels and watches."
The robbers forced Mrs Voice to empty her safe of cash, diamond necklaces and rings, Cartier watches and cuff links. A diamond pen she gave to Billy Fury and other memorabilia was also taken.
One member of the gang held his hand over the mouth of her 12-year-old daughter, Kimberley, and told her not to scream while another man threw her son Michael, 15, down the stairs.
During another raid in Hampstead, the thieves, who had followed a couple home, stole watches and jewellery valued at £10,000.
Four days later another couple were attacked in Golders Green and £400,000 worth of gems was stolen. And, on 18 December, a couple were returning to their St John's Wood home and had jewellery and watches worth £300,000 taken.
The thieves packed the goods in a gold-coloured Haskin Hotel holdall - a bag only given to a select number of guests who stay at the Five Star hotel in Belgravia.
Police said that, on each occasion, two or three robbers have threatened to kill the victims. The gang members are all described as black and armed with knives. In each robbery a high-powered stolen car, fitted with fake number plates, has been used.
