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Search teams found the tills from Evans Cycles, one of the stores worst hit by last Monday’s disorder, on the Denton Estate in Prince of Wales Road on Saturday.

 

The discovery came during a busy week of investigations as officers attempted to track down those involved.
 

With reinforcements from forces outside London still in the borough to provide back-up, police teams have tried to, in the words of one update emailed to residents, “round up” the suspects.

The operation sparked a mini-siege overnight on Monday when a suspect, believed to be a teenage boy, escaped arrest by running on to the roof of a house in Bassett Street, near Queen’s Crescent. Searchlights beamed down from a helicopter while response teams surrounded the building.

As crowds grew, numbers drew back and police confirmed the next morning that no arrests had been made.
 

A lot of the police activity has been based on the east side of Chalk Farm Road, the scene of the chaotic pitched battle between rioters and police last Monday.
 

Privately, some officers believe that gangs of teenage boys put aside historic differences and were effectively working together, in the loosest possible terms, during the violent scenes.
 

The search at Denton, and another at Queen’s Crescent on Saturday, uncovered a large number of weapons.
 

Detective Chief Inspector Eric Phelps, from Camden police, said two knives, a crow bar iron, metal poles and a CS spray canister were found dumped at Denton.
 

DCI Phelps said his team’s searches were “intelligence-led” but added that the fact the tills were discovered so close to Evans Cycles did not necessarily indicate the suspects are from Camden.
 

“Thieves will dispose of as much recognisable property as possible, and as soon as possible,” he said.
 

Areas of the Queen’s Crescent estate had already been searched by police a month ago during a major drugs raid in the area.
 

Nevertheless, officers using metal detectors recovered 12 knives, metal chains, metal bars, a hammer and some cannabis hidden in bushes and flower beds.
 

DCI Phelps said the weapons could have already been on the estate.  
 

“It is likely that these weapons were already present – it is just that they were buried much deeper than normal and may have been missed,” he added. “There is no real way of knowing either way.”
 

Both areas have been known for their problems with youth violence and skirmishes between gangs.
 

DCI Phelps said weapons sweeps did not solve the problems associated with violence – but merely reduce opportunity for harm. 

“Youth violence issues are about socio-economics, not weapon sweeps,” he added.
 

Dave Cheek, 29, manager of Evans Cycles, said police had been in contact with the store five times a day since the riot.

Eighty bikes were stolen on the night. mr Cheek has been told that six people have already been convicted of theft in relation to looting at the shop.
 

He said: “People have brought us cakes and have been coming in saying they couldn’t believe their bike shop had been attacked. 
 

“We’ve had people with brooms sweeping up outside. People talk about broken society but it’s clear it is not. 
 

“That idea is overblown with negative publicity in the media. 
 

“It’s a shame it takes something like this to see it, but the positive spirit in Camden has been amazing.”

Pictured: Evans Cycles the day after it was looted in the riots on Chalk Farm Road
Picture by Laura Babb (www.babbphoto.photoshelter.com)