Teen joins two others in facing time for spate of mobile phone thefts
A man and two teenage boys have now been sentenced for their involvement in a spate of phone theft incidents in Bermondsey and Greenwich.
The trio were brought to justice for their part in snatching phones in 35 separate incidents. A Met investigation resulted in 32 mobile phones being recovered – 30 of them successfully returned to their rightful owners.
The total estimated value of the stolen phones amounts to more than £20,000.
Kie Joyce, 21, of the Neckinger Estate, Southwark, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years imprisonment on September 19 at Inner London Crown Court for conspiracy to steal, and eight counts of dangerous driving.
A 16-year-old boy – who cannot be named for legal reasons – was sentenced to six months on Friday, at the Old Bailey, for conspiracy to steal, and eight counts of dangerous driving.
A second 16-year-old boy – who also cannot be named for legal reasons – was sentenced to a nine-month supervision requirement on February 26 at South London Magistrates’ Court for conspiracy to commit theft and handling stolen goods.
He was also subjected to a Youth Rehabilitation Order, a curfew requirement and is required to pay compensation of £425.
The Met investigation was launched in 2023 and focused on the three individuals who used electric motorbikes to steal phones from unsuspecting victims.
They targeted individuals by aggressively riding their bikes on pavements and approaching people at high speeds, creating an intimidating environment that made it difficult for victims to react or escape.
To tackle the rising issue of phone thefts in London, officers have been using data and technology to target hotspots where offending is more likely to take place.
Officers are patrolling busy areas and town centres to help deter offenders and ensure they are present to act on anything suspicious. The Met is employing CCTV in busy areas to monitor and identify people involved in mobile phone thefts, allowing them to capture real time footage for analysis and evidence gathering.
Police Constable Alex Earley, who led the investigation, said: “I am pleased our investigation has brought three offenders to justice for their part to play in a spate of phone thefts in our local area.
“Our top priority is to drive down crime that impacts our communities the most, creating neighbourhoods where everyone feels safe.”
Commander Owain Richards, the lead for mobile phone thefts in London, added: “We understand the impact of mobile phone theft can have on victims, it’s an invasive and sometimes violent crime- and we’re committed to protecting Londoners and tackling this issue as we make the capital safer.”
If you witness or are a victim of a crime, it is crucial to report it promptly by calling 999 in the case of an emergency. For non-emergency situations, you can call 101 or report online.
Pictured top: A still taken from CCTV footage released by the Met showing how the robbers operated on unsuspecting victims (Picture: The Met)