Chilling footage shows two moped muggers demanding jewellery from a terrified mother and her three-year-old daughter in a daylight attack in south-west London.
The clip was shared by actress Amanda Holden this morning as she appealed for information about the incident, which unfolded not far from her home in Richmond.
The footage shows four men arriving on the wealthy street, where homes sell for more than £3million, on a moped and a motorbike.
All dressed in black, two of the men then jump off the back of bikes and wait in a side street for someone to mug.
Chilling footage shows two moped muggers confronting a mother and child in Richmond
The terrified woman lifts up the child and runs from the men, who disappear down a side street
When the unsuspecting woman and child walk past, the two men run up and confront her, appearing to reach for the child as they demand valuables.
Police said the muggers intimated they were armed, although no weapon was produced.
The visibly-petrified mother picks up the small child and runs into the road, prompting a lorry to stop and three scaffolders to run out and challenge the men, who run off.
Ms Holden tweeted: ‘So this I know is happening everywhere but this was Sandpits Road Tw10 -21st June 12;35 broad daylight. Mother and child attached [attacked].
‘And some heroes in a lorry chased them off. Call 101 or 999 if u know these scumbags.’
Her appeal was also taken up by Piers Morgan, who retweeted her message.
The Good Morning Britain presenter wrote: ‘DISGUSTING. Let’s catch these snivelling cowards now – call the police if you know who they are.’
The CCTV footage, filmed last Thursday, shows the men getting of bikes before the attack
The woman ran out into the road to get away from them, prompting cars and lorries to stop
Police are hunting the muggers but no arrests have yet been made.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘Police were called at 12:35hrs on Thursday, 21 June to Sandpits Road in Petersham after a woman was approached by four men on a black moped and motorbike who demanded her jewellery.
‘They threatened her and a young child who was with her. No injuries were reported No weapon was seen, although it was intimated.
‘Members of the public went to the woman’s assistance and the suspects fled empty-handed.
‘The suspects were all wearing black clothing Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC quoting reference 3542/21Jun.’
Amanda Holden tweeted the footage today. The mugging happened not far from her home
Her appeal was backed by Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan, who branded the attack ‘disgusting’ and called the muggers ‘snivelling cowards’