POLICE say they are “determined” to stop the violent robberies that have spread fear through Burnt Oak and are warning residents to avoid isolated places.

There have been five confirmed stabbings in the area in less than a week, along with a series of robberies, and officers are urging residents to keep valuable property out of site.

While the murder of Carlos Roberto Oliveria, 27, in a brothel in Watling Avenue, and the stabbing of another man in the same incident are included in the five, detectives say they are not related to the other attacks.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Roycroft, of Barnet CID, said: "We are determined to catch and convict anyone involved in robberies.

“There is a full and thorough investigation taking place where we are ensuring that every possible piece of evidence is being looked at to identify those responsible but have sufficient evidence to put before the courts.

"We have the skills, knowledge and experience of units across the Met to call on and we will use every available resource to catch those responsible.

"We cannot work in isolation and we need the support of the local community to catch these criminals.”

The most recent knife attack was in Horsecroft Road, at 2.15am, yesterday morning when a robber hit a man in his 20s on the head, demanded his mobile phone and then stabbed him in the stomach when he resisted.

The victim went to Edgware Community Hospital with minor injuries.

On Monday at around 9.20pm another man appeared at the hospital with stab wounds but initially police and paramedics found no trace of the victim, despite deploying a helicopter with heat sensors.

It is now believed he was stabbed with a pair of scissors.

Three men allegedly broke into a house in Millfield Road on Sunday at 10.30pm and stabbed a father-of-two.

One man was arrested and has since been released on police bail.

DCI Roycroft said: "Lastly I would say to those involved in robberies, last week a 15 year old boy was sentenced to 7 years in prison for his part in robberies on Barnet borough.

“Robbery is serious crime and the sentences reflect it, I would ask you to consider how you want to spend this summer and next years."

Anyone with information on the robberies can contact police by calling 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.