Phone Snatchers Sentenced as Met Police Crack Down

A man and two teenagers have been sentenced after carrying out 35 separate phone thefts in southeast London last year, according to the Metropolitan Police.

Police footage shows members of the trio using electric motorbikes to snatch phones from the hands of unsuspecting victims in Bermondsey and Greenwich. Police said phones worth more than £20,000 were taken.

Kie Joyce, 21, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years’ imprisonment at Inner London Crown Court for conspiracy to steal and eight counts of dangerous driving offences.

Two 16-year-old boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were also sentenced for the thefts. One boy was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. The other was given a nine-month supervision requirement.

Police said that 30 of the stolen phones were returned to their rightful owners. Credit: Metropolitan Police via Storyful

Video transcript

You're gonna get searched on property.

Reason being We had a load of phone thefts earlier on you and the guys who have matched the description of those involved.

Don't you got a mobile phone?

So you're under arrest for theft.

Found a load of phones on your, uh, lad you're with We think are stolen.

So you don't have to say anything.

You're gonna get searched on the property.

Reason being We had a load of phone thefts earlier on you and the guys who have matched the description of those involved.

OK, you got a mobile phone.

So you're under the rest of theft.

Found a load of phones on your, uh, lad you're with we think are stolen, so you don't have to say anything.