A man and two schoolboys have been sentenced for a terrifying spate of mobile phone snatches committed on electric bikes.
Kie Joyce, 21, and the 16-year-olds pounced on 35 unsuspecting victims in south east London last year summer.
CCTV shows them riding e-bikes aggressively on pavements and approaching people at high speeds, making it difficult for their intimidated prey to react or escape in Bermondsey and Greenwich.
Upon the trio’s arrest in a KFC restaurant, £20,000 of devices were found by Metropolitan Police officers with 30 handsets already having been returned to their rightful owners.
At Inner London Crown Court on Thursday, Kie Joyce, 21, of the Neckinger Estate in Bermondsey, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years jail for conspiracy to steal and dangerous driving.
One boy - who cannot be named for legal reasons - received six months in custody.
The second youth got a nine-month supervision requirement, a curfew and is required to pay compensation of £425.
Police Constable Alex Earley, who caught them, 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.
Two teenagers and a 21-year-old man have been jailed after they stole £20,000 worth of phones across Greenwich and Bermondsey last summer.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 4, 2024
Responding to community concerns, officers were able to identify and arrest the trio and return 30 of the phones to their rightful owners. pic.twitter.com/PV8GVDKk0p
“This demonstrates our commitment to addressing concerns from those living and working here.
“Our top priority is to drive down crime that impacts our communities the most, creating neighbourhoods where everyone feels safe.”
Across London, around 57,000 mobiles were reported stolen in the past year as the crime epidemic sweeps the capital. Hotspot areas include Westminster, Lambeth and Newham.
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.
“We continue to use data and technology to build intelligence and track stolen items to target offenders. We are also working phone firms to ‘design out’ the ability for phones to be reused and sold on as we seek to dismantle the criminal market that fuels robbery and theft.
“We encourage people to report as soon as they can whenever they have been a victim of mobile phone theft, so officers can investigate swiftly.”
