FOUR people were threatened at gunpoint by a gang who then stole the victims' cars.

In separate incidents, the carjackers targeted three women and one man in Woodford Green and Hainault, threatening to shoot them if they did not hand over their car keys.

Police believe the same gang were responsible for all the incidents which happened within two hours last Wednesday, November 21.

Redbridge PC Steve Lopez said: The public should be aware these are three very dangerous men.

The first victim was a 49-year-old woman who parked her grey Renault Megane in Westgrove Road, Woodford Green, at 6.50pm.

As she got out, she was approached by a man, who looked at her and shouted to the other men It's not her.

He then pulled out a gun and said: Give me your car keys or I'll shoot your kneecaps off.

Another man got into the passenger seat. They then drove off in the car, which has not yet been found.

The woman said: It all happened so quickly, I don't know how I felt. He was pointing the gun at my knees.

Officers believe it was the same gang who targeted a man an hour later at 7.50pm in Henry's Walk, Hainault.

The man got out of his X-reg Ford Focus car and had just walked into a reception area of flats when the three men forced him to go back out into the street and hand over his keys.

He said: The man with the gun said 'don't move until we've gone up the road or I'll come back and shoot you'.

It was totally unbelievable. You just don't think this would happen in an area like this.

The robbers took off in the car, which contained tools belonging to the victim. It has not been recovered.

Later, at 8.35pm, a 50-year-old woman in a Y-reg blue Vauxhall Golf got out with the engine running to do a quick errand in Woodford Green.

She heard voices and saw three men running towards her. One man got into her car, another grabbed hold of her arms and neck.

He then got out a handgun, held it to the woman's temple and threatened to kill her if she tried to do anything.

Again the robbers sped off in her car, which was later found in East Ham.

The next victim, a 29-year-old woman, had pulled over in St Barnabas Road, near Woodbridge High School, Woodford Green, to answer her mobile phone.

The men opened the door of the MGF X-reg Rover and one pointed a gun at her, threatening to shoot her. She offered him her bag and mobile phone, but he told her he wanted her car.

Two of the robbers drove off in the car and the third man followed in a silver Golf. The car was later recovered in the Walthamstow area.

One man has been described as black, aged 25, 5ft 6ins tall, with short cropped dark hair and had a stammer. He wore a grey hooded top, white t-shirt and dark trousers and gold chain.

Another man was also black, aged 25 and wore a black-hooded top with the hood up. The third man was black and aged 25. Anyone with information should call 8345 3466.