A ‘dangerous’ gang of armed robbers have been convicted of targeting business in east London after a police operation which caught them mid-crime.

Yesterday, five men were found guilty of targeting a shop in Chadwell Heath in August last year.

David Sadiku, 44, from Walthamstow was amongst those convicted.

The men are the final members of a seven-strong group to be convicted for the offences which took place in Ilford and south-east London during the summer of 2013.

On August 8 last year Michael Carbon and Paulius Strasunskas armed with a handgun, targeted a shop in Chadwell Heath and threatened a member of staff.

They then stole cash and other items.

As they returned to their getaway vehicle officers from the Flying Squad and armed units arrested them.

Francis Carbon and Paulius Strasunskas were arrested nearby in control of two getaway vehicles, and Aamir Kayani was found near a driving range after having fled the scene.

The firearm and a quantity of cash were recovered from them.

A sixth man, Amarjeet Bharj, 48, was arrested several days later for assisting the gang with the vehicles used.

Enquiries then linked the gang to three other offences including a burglary in Ilford.

On June 26 a house in Norfolk Road, Ilford was targeted.

However residents fought back and they left with nothing, despite them carrying a firearm.

On July 5 an armed robbery took place at Maxcroft Securities, a pawnbroker and money transfer centre in Eastern Avenue, Ilford.

Sadiku and 36-year-old Kelly Day entered the store, and Sadiku approached the counter carrying a green box featuring the word 'ROLEX'.

Staff assumed he was there to pawn a watch, but he then pulled a semi-automatic pistol from his rear waistband.

Staff and customers were attacked and threatened with the gun and demands were made. The manager was pistol-whipped in the face and Strasunskas stunned both him and a female member of staff several times with the stun gun.

The suspects ransacked the premises, stealing expensive jewellery, high value watches, and £60,000 in cash.

On August 6 2013 Francis and Michael Carbon, Sadiku, and Strasunskas were responsible for the residential burglaries of three flats within a block in Plumstead.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Ellen of the North-East Branch Flying Squad office said: "The gang spent considerable time organising their attacks and always put in place a plan to make good their escape.

"The excellent work by Flying Squad officers, together with support from armed units, has led to the removal of a dangerous gang.”

They were convicted following a nine week trial.

Michael Carbon, 26, of Queens Terrace in Newham pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to robbery and was found guilty of burglary and possession of a firearm.

David Sadiku, 41, of Copeland Road in Walthamstow pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to aggravated burglary, robbery and three counts of possession of a prohibited firearm.

Paulius Strasunskas, 27, of Marston Road, Ilford was convicted of aggravated burglary, robbery, burglary, possession of a firearm, carrying a firearm and possession of a prohibited weapon.

Francis Carbon, 32, of Mersea House, Crows Road, Barking was convicted of aggravated burglary, robbery, burglary, possession of a firearm, carrying a firearm and possession of a prohibited weapon.

Aamir Kayani, 31, of Elgin House, Whalebone Lane North, Romford was convicted of aggravated burglary, robbery, burglary, possession of a firearm, carrying a firearm and possession of a prohibited weapon.

Amarjeet Bharj, 48, of Front Lane, Upminster was convicted of robbery, burglary, carrying a firearm, possession of a firearm and possession of a prohibited weapon.

Kelly Day, 36, Northbrook Road, Ilford pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a prohibited firearm.

All of them will be sentenced on July 18.