Croydon gunpoint bank robber caught after tiny CCTV clue gave him away

A Croydon man’s body deformity was spotted by police on CCTV - landing him 12 years in prison. Mohammed Basheeru, 44, also known as Sonni Reid, of London Road, Croydon, has a slight deformity on his left ear - which detectives used to track him down after a gunpoint robbery.

Police were called at 11.26am on Monday, February 14 2022, to reports of an armed robbery at a high street bank in Sydenham. The court heard that two men wearing face coverings entered the bank, holding the cashier up at gunpoint and demanding she emptied the till.

Basheeru and Dorian Rankine, 43 of Beulah Road, Thornton Heath, then escaped with the loot down Venner Road, where they were seen by a witness. CCTV footage showed them making off from the scene four minutes later.

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Police found the same car was used to collect Basheeru from his home before heading to the bank. They managed to identify Basheeru via his ear deformity, as he was already known to them.

The evidence collected led to Basheeru being interviewed, where he denied any involvement in the robbery. He was charged with the offence and pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court on April 9.

Rankine appeared at Inner London Crown Court on Friday, January 27 last year, where he pleaded guilty to robbery and two other unrelated robberies. He was sentenced to ten years in prison.

Detective Constable, Craig Prout from the Flying Squad said: “This was a terrifying incident for the people involved. We’re grateful for their support, which has now meant that the two offenders have been brought to justice.”

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