Four convicted following Met investigation into mobile phone shop robberies

Four members of an organised criminal gang behind a series of mobile phone robberies across London have been convicted following a Met Police investigation.

Between May and June in 2025, detectives from the Met’s Flying Squad, a specialist team that investigates high-value commercial robberies, worked intensively to identify and arrest the offenders.

The investigation involved painstaking analysis of CCTV footage, forensic evidence, mobile phone data and surveillance to trace those involved.

These convictions come as the Met continues a relentless crackdown on back-office phone shop robberies across London – with offences down 93 per cent since June 2025. Across London, personal robbery is down 13.1 per cent and residential burglary is down 5 per cent since April last year.

Detective Chief Inspector Laura Hillier, from the Met’s Flying Squad, said:

“We know how much distress these crimes cause staff and the wider impact they have on businesses in our community, which is why we are absolutely determined to stop this offending.

“Our detectives worked quickly, trawling through CCTV, phone data and forensic evidence to identify and arrest these thieves.

"Their convictions should serve as a clear message to anyone who thinks they can carry out robberies: we will find you and we will bring you to justice.

“Londoners deserve to feel safe in their communities and we will continue to use every tool available – including working with retail and industry partners – to protect them and ensure these violent criminals are taken off our streets.”

Stuart Seymour, Director of Security at Virgin Media O2, said:

“The safety of our people and our customers is always our number one priority, and we won’t sit back while criminal gangs use intimidation and violence against them.

“These convictions, which we’ve worked hand in hand with law enforcement to secure, show that targeting mobile phone stores absolutely does not pay and we’re pleased to see these criminals brought to justice.

“We have built, enhanced and improved security measures within stores and developed mechanisms with the police to ensure faster reaction times and evidence gathering leading to arrests. We will not cease fighting back and protecting our people and customers.”

Investigation

The gang carried out raids on six mobile phone shops across London in 2025, stealing tens of thousands of pounds’ worth of high-value mobile phones, including £30,000 worth of devices stolen in Woolwich.

1. At 10:00hrs on Wednesday, 28 May a group of masked men entered a Three store in Lewisham and demanded access to the storeroom. Staff triggered the panic alarm and the group fled.
2. At 11:00hrs on Wednesday, 28 May a masked offender forced his way into the office back-room of a Three store in Woolwich. He stole around £30,000 worth of phones and escaped with an accomplice.
3. At 14:00hrs on Tuesday, 3 June six masked men entered a Three store in Wood Green. They threatened staff, accessed the backroom safe and stole multiple phones.
4. At 12:50hrs on Thursday, 5 June four masked men forced entry into the storeroom of an O2 store in Haringey and stole phones before escaping.
5. At 12:30hrs on Saturday, 7 June four masked men entered an O2 store in Sutton and demanded access to the backroom. Staff activated the panic alarm and the group fled.
6. At 13:10hrs on Saturday, 7 June four masked men stormed an O2 store in Colliers Wood. They threatened and assaulted staff and stole 21 phones.
7. At 11:30hrs on Monday, 9 June three masked men attempted to rob the same O2 store in Sutton while under covert police surveillance. Officers intervened and arrested them at the scene.

Detectives pieced together the evidence to identify patterns in the gang’s movements before launching a surveillance operation as they prepared for another raid in Sutton. They moved in as the suspects fled the store, blocking their vehicle, pursuing them on foot and arresting them.

Convictions

The following people were convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery at Croydon Crown Court on Monday, 30 March, following a trial:

[A] Thomas Davidson, 71 (04.10.53) of Greystock Avenue, Southmead

[B] Saleem Ramzan, 49 (04.08.76) of Chipstead Avenue, Manchester

[C] Louis Pandanzyla. 18 (10.09.07) of Clarence Avenue, Upminster

[D] The fourth defendant is under 18 and cannot be named for legal reasons

They were remanded and will be sentenced on Wednesday, 15 July at Croydon Crown Court.

A total of ten people have now been convicted as a result of the operation, with six having already pleaded guilty earlier in the investigation, including the gang’s ringleader:

Sammie Govera, 32 (21.11.93) of The Redlands, Newport will also be sentenced on Wednesday, 15 July at Croydon Crown Court.

The Met has also cut mobile phone theft offences in London by 10,000 in the past year, following its largest ever crackdown on phone thieves.

Officers are deploying cutting-edge technology, such as drones, high-powered e-bikes and live facial recognition, to catch offenders and significantly disrupt the stolen mobile phone market.

NOTES TO EDITOR:

You can view stills and footage here: https://mps.box.com/s/bmq2ew03qy22mgjjlrdc59mkeyx2wuhn

Video shows:

:00 – :16 – On Monday, 9 June officers arrested ringleader Sammie Govera after an attempted robbery at an O2 store in Sutton.

:17 – :35 – On the same day, officers arrested Thomas Davidson, who was acting as the driver, in the attempted robbery.

:36 – :49 – On the same day, officers arrested Louis Pandanzyla.

:51 – 1:16 – On Saturday, 7 June CCTV captured four masked men entering an O2 store in Colliers Wood. They threatened and assaulted staff and stole 21 phones.

Images include:

Sammie Govera, Thomas Davidson, Louis Pandanzyla and Saleem Ramzan.