Police are on high alert after gang and drug-related violence erupted in Wandsworth, after five shootings and three stabbings in just six days.

The attacks – some of which happened in crowded streets at busy time of the day – involved youths, gangs and drugs, police said, and led one eye-witness to describe the scenes as reminiscent of hard-hitting TV police show, CSI.

In response Wandsworth police increased foot patrols, while a neighbouring borough force introduced a four-day crack down on gangs.

The week of violence, which spread across Tooting, Battersea and Southfields, culminated on Friday night when a gang of teenagers stabbed two youths, aged 20 and 22, in St Mark’s Road, Mitcham, at 10pm.

Merton police, who believe Friday’s stabbing is linked to violence in Wandsworth, reacted by launching an operation to deal with gangs crossing into the borough from Wandsworth and Croydon.

Problems started in Southfields on Tuesday, September 8, when a 20-year-old man was shot in the shoulder about 3pm in Whitlock Drive.

Police are looking for two men who left the scene by bicycle. The first of four Battersea incidents began when police were called to reports of shots fired in Wye Street at 5.25pm on Wednesday, September 9.

They discovered a man, 36, with stab wounds and just over an hour later found a van in Lavender Hill with gunshot damage and a 24-year-old-man nearby who had been shot in the leg.

Eyewitness Phyllis Meelvany said: “They just dragged him out and pointed guns at him.

“Clothing was ripped off him and left on the floor next to the van, it was a bit like being caught in the middle of an episode of CSI.”

Five youths were arrested and bailed and a man was charged with GBH and possession of a firearm with intent, in connection with the Wye Street stabbing.

Only 24 hours later a woman discovered gunshot marks on her door in Westbridge Road,Battersea.

Police said they had no idea how the marks appeared.

On Saturday, a 29-year-old man was shot in the leg in Arnold Road, near Tooting railway station, and at 12.30pm on Sunday a passenger on a black motorcycle was seen trying to shoot a handgun at a group in Northcote Road, Battersea.

The biker fled the scene when the gun failed to discharge.

Chief Inspector Tim Harding, of Wandsworth police, said: “We believe [the incidents] to be related to the gang drugs problem, but we don’t know they are connected to each other.”

All the victims received serious but non-life threatening injuries.

The rise in violence comes at a difficult time for Wandsworth police, who are dealing with two race attacks by youths in Tooting – one of which led to the death of a Muslim pensioner.

Anyone with any information should call Wandsworth police on 0300 123 1212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Timeline of incidents

• Tuesday, September 8 – A 20-year-old man is shot in the shoulder at about 3pm in Whitlock Drive, Southfields. Police are looking for two men who were seen on bicycles near Albert Drive.

• Wednesday, September 9 – Two men injured in two separate incidents in Battersea.

• Thursday, September 10 – Woman discovers pellet marks fired from a shotgun in her front door in Battersea.

• Friday, September 11 – Two youths, 20 and 22, stabbed in St Mark’s Road, Mitcham.

• Saturday, September 12 – A 29-year-old man is shot in the leg in Arnold Road near Tooting rail station.

• Sunday, September 13 – Motorbike gunman fails to fire gun in Northcote Road.