Armed with screwdrivers, knives and surgical razors, 15 male suspects ransacked a Brixton student commune on 21 March.
The attack happened in the early hours of the morning while the students were still asleep.
Brixton police were on the scene and spokesperson Jeanette Backhoff said one of the suspects gained entry through a window at the back of the house and opened for his accomplices.
“Some of the students were threatened and they were cut on their upper lips and on the side of their faces with the surgical razors,” she said.
Laptops,iPads, cellphones, money, student cards and credit cards were stolen, Backhoff added.
“Students are soft targets to criminals and commune owners are urged to get proper security to keep these students safe at all time. Students also need to realise that they are endangering their lives by not locking the windows and doors if they go out or go to bed.”
Student-targeted crime has become a concern for Brixton police and they have conducted various operations focused on this in recent weeks.
Brixton station commander, Colonel Mkhacani Maluleke said, “We will do everything in our power to make these streets safe for students to walk on. They have a lot to worry about. They don’t need to worry about being robbed.”
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