Youths sentenced after 'steaming' of mobile phone shops
- 11 years ago
A gang of youths who 'steamed' dozens of major high street mobile phone
shop chains to steal hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of top of the
range handsets and tablets have been sentenced today (Tuesday 5 February
2013) at Croydon Crown Court.
The 12 youths, who had all earlier pleaded guilty to one offence of
conspiracy to commit burglary, targeted Carphone Warehouse, O2 and
Vodafone stores all over London and surrounding areas in a three month
spree last summer.
The group were arrested after a intelligence-led operation by the
National Mobile Phone Crime Unit, (NMPCU) supported by Croydon CID,
having traumatised staff and stolen hundreds of pounds worth of stock
from the 45 separate shops they targeted between June and August 2012.
The gang would operate in groups of between four and 12 at a time,
meeting up at transport hubs and then travelling to the venue they
planned to target. Unwitting members of the public were often caught up
as the gang pushed them out of the way after rushing into the shop,
crowding into customers, and violently wrenching the stock from displays
complete with wires.
Operation Minogue was set up to tackle the cross-border crime spree
which took place in boroughs north south and east of the river. During
the arrest phases, assistance was provided by police officers from units
in Croydon.
Detective Chief Inspector Robert Mahoney, from the NMPCU, said: "Due to
the hard work and dedication of officers from the NMPCU, a 12-strong
Croydon street gang have been successfully convicted of serious offences
that took place all over London.
"These convictions should act as a warning to anyone involved in this
type of activity that the MPS will robustly and swiftly deal with those
who use intimidation to fulfil their greed.
"We have worked closely with key business partners, including Carphone
Warehouse and local boroughs impacted by these offences, to obtain vital
evidence and reduce the fear of crime and the professionalism of
officers and staff will ensure this particular gang no longer represent
a threat to Londoners."
FULL STORY: http://crimeandjustice.co.uk/?p=15079
shop chains to steal hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of top of the
range handsets and tablets have been sentenced today (Tuesday 5 February
2013) at Croydon Crown Court.
The 12 youths, who had all earlier pleaded guilty to one offence of
conspiracy to commit burglary, targeted Carphone Warehouse, O2 and
Vodafone stores all over London and surrounding areas in a three month
spree last summer.
The group were arrested after a intelligence-led operation by the
National Mobile Phone Crime Unit, (NMPCU) supported by Croydon CID,
having traumatised staff and stolen hundreds of pounds worth of stock
from the 45 separate shops they targeted between June and August 2012.
The gang would operate in groups of between four and 12 at a time,
meeting up at transport hubs and then travelling to the venue they
planned to target. Unwitting members of the public were often caught up
as the gang pushed them out of the way after rushing into the shop,
crowding into customers, and violently wrenching the stock from displays
complete with wires.
Operation Minogue was set up to tackle the cross-border crime spree
which took place in boroughs north south and east of the river. During
the arrest phases, assistance was provided by police officers from units
in Croydon.
Detective Chief Inspector Robert Mahoney, from the NMPCU, said: "Due to
the hard work and dedication of officers from the NMPCU, a 12-strong
Croydon street gang have been successfully convicted of serious offences
that took place all over London.
"These convictions should act as a warning to anyone involved in this
type of activity that the MPS will robustly and swiftly deal with those
who use intimidation to fulfil their greed.
"We have worked closely with key business partners, including Carphone
Warehouse and local boroughs impacted by these offences, to obtain vital
evidence and reduce the fear of crime and the professionalism of
officers and staff will ensure this particular gang no longer represent
a threat to Londoners."
FULL STORY: http://crimeandjustice.co.uk/?p=15079