Robbers following rich home

A gang is robbing the wealthy after following them home from nights out.

A £500,000 raid on the home of rock star Billy Fury's former lover on Monday night, is linked to a string of other thefts, Scotland Yard revealed today.

Four masked thieves threatened to kill property heiress and music publisher Lisa Voice,in her fifties, and her two young children at her St John's Wood mansion.

Police believe the gang has carried out at least four other robberies.

Det InspChris Byrne said: "These are all particularly violent robberies where the victims were attacked in their own homes. 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 gang forced Mrs Voice to empty her safe of cash, diamond necklaces and rings, Cartier watches and cuff links. The thieves wrenched a diamond ring from her finger. One member held his hand over her 12 yearold daughter, Kimberley's, mouth and told her not to scream while another man threw her 15 year-old son, Michael, down the stairs.

On 28 November last year a man, aged in his twenties, was held at knife-point and had his watch and Audi RS4 car stolen. Police believe the car was used in three subsequent robberies. During one raid in Hampstead on 2 December the gang followeda couple home and stole watches and jewellery valued at £10,000.

Four days later a couple were attacked in Golders Green and had £400,000 of gems stolen. And on 18 December a couple returning to their St John's Wood home had jewellery and watches worth £300,000 taken.

Police said on each occasion the robbers, described as black and usually armed with knives, have threatened to kill the victims.

Detectives recovered the Audi car and discovered a silver Zippo cigarette lighter inside - engraved with "VF 5.12.2001".

DI Byrne added: "We're appealing for information about all the robberies but in particular we would like to hear from anyone who may recognise the lighter and knows the significance of the engraving - or anyone who undertook the engraving. It may be that this lighter belongs to a victim of crime that has yet to report it or it may belong to one of the suspects - we have got to keep an open mind."

Anyone with information should call Marylebone CID on 020 7321 9306 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Sinead Cusack's handbag snatched