Police hunt armed gang who carried out 'vicious' two day kidnap on Rolex-wearing victim

'Traumatised' man was ambushed, stripped naked and beaten after being lured to home by two men known to him, according to police

A man was held hostage in a horrific two-day kidnap ordeal by a criminal gang who stripped him naked, beat him up and robbed his parents’ home, according to police.

The 24-year-old victim, from Croydon, was lured to a house in Thornton Heath by two male acquaintances on Monday 4 December after they spotted him wearing a valuable Rolex watch, police said.

The victim was asked if the £9,000 timepiece was genuine before he was led into the house where a group of men were lying in wait armed with weapons including a gun.

Following the ambush, police said the victim was subjected to prolonged physical abuse and humiliation by the attackers, who threatened him with knives and a gun and forced him to call his parents with a ransom demand.

When his parents said they could not produce the money, their son was forced to hand over his keys to their home and two of the gang allegedly burgled the property.

The two suspects were caught on CCTV, released by the Metropolitan Police, as they entered the victim’s parents’ home in Sydenham on Wednesday 6 December - before they allegedly stole a large sum of cash, designer handbags and sunglasses and further Rolex watches, said to be worth “a significant sum”.

The victim managed to escape after he was driven to his bank to withdraw money from his account.

Police believe the alleged attackers stayed in the car by the Metro bank in North End, Croydon, to avoid having their faces recorded on CCTV, allowing the victim the chance to escape.

He fled to a nearby church, Croydon Minster, where he pleaded for help before the police were called.

Detectives are looking for two brothers in connection with the offence and have named them as Ali Dervish, 28 and Sinan Dervish, 19.

Detective Sergeant Samuel Bennett of Croydon CID said: “This was a vicious and prolonged attack of a nature that thankfully is very rare. It has left the victim utterly distraught and traumatised."

“We are urgently seeking any information on the individuals involved, who we believe could number up to twelve, but particularly those whose images and details we have released."

The victim was left with severe bruising to the face and swollen lips.

Police described the stolen Rolex as a 2007 model with a black face, black bezel, yellow gold body and urged any member of the public who has bought or been offered a similar model over the past few days to come forward.

“Any information you have, however small, could prove vital to us as we piece together the events leading up to and following the kidnap. We will treat any information provided in the strictest of confidence.

“These men are dangerous and it is important that we apprehend them before they can target anyone else.”

Two men aged 39 and 58 were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping on Friday 8 December before being bailed to return to a south London police station in early January.

Anyone with information should call Croydon CID on 101 or tweet @MetCC. The independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.