Three sentenced as Met crackdown on mobile phone theft in south east London

Local Met officers in south east London have led an investigation into a series of phone thefts, as part of the service’s commitment to tackling mobile phone robbery and theft.

A man and two teenage boys were 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. Thanks to the actions of Met officers, 32 mobile phones were recovered, with 30 of them successfully returned to their rightful owners. The total estimated value of the stolen phones amounts to over £20,000.

To tackle the rising issue of phone thefts in London, officers have been listening to community concerns and using data and technology to target hotspots where offending is more likely to take place.

As part of the A New Met for London plan, the Met are focusing on improving community policing, with officers patrolling busy areas and town centres to help deter offenders and ensure they are present to act on anything suspicious. Local residents have fed back the increased presence has provided a sense of safety to residents and visitors.

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.

PC 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. 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.”

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.

Kie Joyce, 21 (20.03.03) of Neckinger Estate, SE16 was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment on Thursday, 19 September at Inner London Crown Court for conspiracy to steal and eight counts of dangerous driving offences.

A 16-year-old boy – who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to six months on Friday, 1 November 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 Friday, 26 February at South London Magistrates' Court for conspiracy to commit theft and handling stolen goods. He was also subjected to a youth rehabilitation order, curfew requirement and is required to pay compensation of £425.

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”.

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.

For advice on how to stay safe from mobile phone theft please our website for further information.