Two men have been jailed for 40 months each for their roles in a ram-raid targeting the Yves Saint Laurent boutique in London's Old Bond Street, where they stole luxury handbags worth approximately £30,000.
Ryan Brough, 32, and Max Tyson, 25, used a black Toyota SUV to smash through the store's fortified windows in the early hours of January 23. CCTV footage captured the vehicle repeatedly reversing into the glass while a moped rider kept watch and another individual prepared to grab merchandise. The pair entered the store, collected handbags, and fled the scene within approximately 100 seconds.
The incident was part of a series of five raids conducted between November 2025 and January 2026, during which the gang allegedly stole a total of £561,000 worth of luxury goods. Brough and Tyson, who have prior convictions for theft and robbery, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle.
Their targets included other high-end retailers such as Bottega Veneta on Old Bond Street, where they stole goods valued at £40,000 on November 17, and END Clothing in Broadwick Street on December 1. On December 16, they also raided Loro Piana, stealing items worth nearly £400,000 using a white Mitsubishi SUV.
During the investigation, detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Flying Squad arrested Brough and Tyson on the day of the Yves Saint Laurent raid. The court heard that after one of the robberies, Tyson made a 600-mile round trip in a single day to sell stolen items, depositing only £1,800 into his bank account.
Also sentenced in connection with the raids were Oliver Ndayizeye, 36, who received a suspended 36-week sentence for providing Brough and Tyson with his Vauxhall Insignia. Sonny Stringer, 30, described as a former phone snatcher, was given a 22-month suspended sentence for handling stolen goods. Harry Johnson, 24, also admitted handling stolen goods and was sentenced to 22 months imprisonment.
Detective Constable Will Wigzell of the Met's Flying Squad stated that these robberies have a significant impact on businesses, their staff, and the community, causing emotional and financial harm. He emphasized the organized nature of the group's offenses, including the use of stolen vehicles and mopeds to evade capture, and commended the Flying Squad's efforts in bringing them to justice. The sentences, he added, demonstrate the commitment to tackling such crimes in London.