WATCH: Umbrella wielding robbers jailed after £177k crime spree

Ashleigh Evans, Marcus Morgan, Liam Bell and Trea Richardson often used umbrellas to mask their entrance when they violently targeted supermarkets, convenience stores and electrical shops between 11 April and 2 June 2014, getting away with around £145,000, £2,200 worth of cigarettes and cars worth £30,000.

Their spree began at Staples in West Bromwich when the group, armed with hammers and screwdrivers threatened staff into handing over money from the tills. During the robbery, they also stole the manager's Mercedes E200, which they used as their getaway card.

The group's next target was Farm Foods in Princes End, Tipton, on April 27. Entering the shop with umbrellas, they ordered staff to get on the floor, with one employee being punched to the face. Cash was then stolen from the manager's office.

On May 2, the foursome, now brandishing golf clubs at staff and shoppers, stole cash from the tills of Towsure Products, Long Lane, Halesowen, before going on to target Subway in West Bromwich, within the hour on the same day.

Just five days later, they turned their attention to the Post Office on Londonderry Road, Oldbury. This time, they used a stun gun to threaten staff into handing over cash.

The following day, on May 8, they tried to rob Home Zone in Bearwood but left empty-handed. Half an hour later, again holding brollies, they went into Farm Foods in Smethwick and forced staff into handing over money.

On May 10, they burst into Asda in Coseley armed with a handgun, knife and hammer stole a large quantity of cash. A Ford Mondeo ? stolen from Cradley Heath earlier that month ?used as the getaway car was found abandoned nearby and a search of the immediate area recovered a plastic bag containing the firearm ? a BB gun.

On May 13, a large quantity of cash and cigarettes were stolen from Asda in Netherton after staff were threatened with what appeared to be a gun in a plastic bag. On May 22, staff at Farmfoods in Smethwick were forced into a back room while offenders ? armed with a hammer - stole cash from the safe and tills.

Six days later, on May 28, three men approached staff waiting to get into PC World in Wednesbury, demanding to be let in. One employee was punched to the neck and others were told they would be shot if they did not give the location of the safe, however the gang left empty-handed.

That evening, the gang targeted another Asda, this time in High Street, Dudley, armed with hammers and what staff described as a gun in a plastic bag, getting away with a large quantity of cash.

The group now decided to move away from their usual patch and on June 2, they entered Asda on New Road, Kidderminster. Armed with hammers and threatening to shoot staff, they forced employees into a freezer before stealing a large quantity of money.

Forensic evidence found on the gun recovered from the Asda Coseley offence led to further inquiries, which resulted in a number of suspects being identified.

On June 12 officers executed warrants at the home addresses of Evans, aged 26; Morgan, aged 21; Bell, aged 19 and Richardson, aged 22.

At Evans' house, officers found fluorescent jackets ? identical to those used in the robberies - along with statements showing large transfers of cash.

They also found numerous Farmfoods cash bags. A search of Morgan's home address found £2,500 in cash and a parka identical to one worn in the robbery at Asda in Coseley.

Phones found at the addresses of all four showed calls between them and placed them in the areas of the robberies when they were committed. Number plate analysis of the vehicles used in the robberies ? which were also linked to the individuals in the group ? showed them travelling in convoy on the dates of the offences.

Richardson and Bell were arrested at the time the warrants were executed, while Morgan went on the run for five months before being detained in November 2014. Evans was arrested on a flight back from Amsterdam ? the pink umbrella captured on CCTV was in his luggage.

Evans of Vale Street, West Bromwich; Morgan of Park Road, Tividale; Bell of Bellvue Road, Rowley Regis and Richardson of Grafton Road, Handsworth, all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob at an earlier hearing.

They were sentenced to a total of 27 and a half years at Birmingham Crown Court.

Detective Sergeant Rich Whitehouse from Force CID said: "The money and value of goods stolen ? while significant ? is nothing compared to the impact these offences have had on the staff members of the targeted premises.

"These offences were carefully planned and the group went to great lengths to conceal their involvement ? often using umbrellas as cover when walking from the street to the shops, so as not to draw attention to their face coverings.

"However, the more offences they committed the more arrogant they became, but their plans were no match for the speed of our officers, who were able to seize key evidence from the first Asda robbery before they had a chance to remove it.

"There was also a clear escalation in the type of weapons used in the robberies and I am in no doubt they would have gone on to seriously hurt someone had they not been stopped.

"I hope the sentences handed to these individuals will bring some comfort to those affected by their actions, who we hope can now begin to put the distress of what happened behind them, safe in the knowledge that these dangerous criminals will be behind bars for a considerable length of time."