Crooks who lure their victims into meeting women pictured on an adult website before robbing them at gunpoint have been targeting Wandsworth.

The robbers strike while the men are waiting in their cars or on the street.

Three armed robberies have happened in Laitwood Road over the past three months.

Detective Constable Dave Gilroy-Scott said: "We have evidence to suggest men are being lured to this specific spot under the pretence of an arranged escort meet.

"The robbers obviously know the victims will be carrying cash and they seem to have no qualms about using a gun to get what they want."

In the latest attack, shortly before 11pm on September 2, a 41 year-old man was sat in his car and became suspicious of a black man and woman across the road in Ranmere Street.

They walked close to his car but did not get in and about five to 10 minutes later the man suddenly opened the passenger door and jumped in.

He was holding a large black handgun and demanded the man's money.

The victim ran off and phoned police from a local Chinese restaurant but when he returned to his car his mobile phone and Sat Nav accessory had been stolen.

The male suspect was black with an Afro hairstyle, 6ft 4in, of medium build and dressed all in black. There is no further description of the woman.

The first armed robbery happened near the junction of Balham High Street on June 21 at 12.40am.

A 24 year-old man had parked his grey Audi TT in Laitwood Road because he said it was overheating.

About five minutes had passed when a young girl tapped on the window and asked if he knew a man called Michael.

He said no but she repeated the question and, again, he said he did not know anyone by that name.

The girl walked off, but about two minutes later a man approached the car from the rear and tapped on the window with his gun, saying "Open the door now."

The victim opened the door and was told to hand over his cash. The robber also got the man's mobile phone and casually walked off. The man drove off and reported the robbery to police.

The suspect was a black man of medium build, 5ft 9in tall, around 30-years-old, with a bald head, goatee beard and black moustache.

He was wearing a black Nike cap, black T-shirt and low denim jeans that showed his Calvin Klein boxer shorts. The girl was described as mixed race and aged 11 to 14.

The second armed robbery happened on July 31 at 5.15pm when a 32 year-old man walking along Laitwood Road. He also had cash and a mobile robbed at gunpoint.

The handgun is described as mainly gold with a black handle. The suspect was described as a dark-skinned black man, 6ft, in his mid to late thirties. He was dressed all in black with a black hat.

"We need to find out who is behind this and get these guns off the streets," said D Con Gilroy-Scott. If this has happened to you then please come forward to police.

"There seem to be at least two men carrying out these robberies who always dress in black clothing. And we need to know who this young girl is."

No one has been arrested and inquiries continue.

Anyone with information should call the robbery squad on 020 8247 8874 or make an anonymous report with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.