Four teenagers who committed moped-enabled robberies have been collectively sentenced to more than 13 years’ imprisonment
The four teenagers were found guilty on 3 November of conspiracy to rob following a four week trial. The court heard how the robberies and attempted robberies took place between 2nd December 2016 and 9th March 2017.
Phones, wallets, handbags and laptops were stolen with threats of violence and on some occasions a knife was used. Six scooters were also stolen by the group with four of those taken from their owners by force.
The gang were caught by detectives from the Met’s South Area Venice Investigation Team.
Following a robbery on 9 March, officers were able to use CCTV to track the gang’s route to Kendal Close, Lambeth where the stolen vehicles were parked.
One member of the gang, a 15-year-old boy [A] was arrested by officers as he got on one of the scooters. At his home address they recovered a mobile phone stolen during a robbery in Westminster and a pair of bolt croppers. He was arrested that day on suspicion of robbery and released on bail.
A warrant was issued for a 16-year-old boy [B] and a search of his bedroom uncovered an Oyster card from a robbery on 6 March. He was arrested on his return to the address. His phone was seized, which revealed pictures of his accomplices wearing masks and clothes described by victims in the crimes. There was also an image of a masked person in his bedroom holding a knife. His DNA was also discovered on a scooter recovered after a theft in January.
This evidence led to Mairuf [D], who was found to have an Oyster card in her bedroom from a robbery on 23 February.
Another accomplice, a 16-year-old boy [C] was found to have the same clothes as worn in robberies on 6 March and had sent text messages to the other 16-year-old boy [B] about the stolen scooters.
Detective Constable Adam Barry said: “Police are working hard to keep the public safe and make the streets hostile territory for criminals who steal scooters, mopeds or motorbikes and then use them to commit crimes.
“These offenders rely on the unwariness of the public to commit their crimes. Therefore it is so important that the public remain vigilant at all times to protect their personal property.
“If anyone sees any suspicious activity or has any information about who is committing these crimes, please call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. In an emergency call 999.”
