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A suspected mobile phone thief was captured mere seconds after a phone was taken, largely due to the help of bystanders who supported the police in his capture.
Footage from CCTV depicts two individuals on electric bicycles approaching Ludgate Hill towards St Paul’s. The recording reveals the first suspect snatching a phone from a woman. When confronted by law enforcement, the initial suspect fled by speeding away on the pavement.
The second suspect, a 23-year-old from Southwark, retraced his steps back to the location where the theft occurred. Observers of the theft intervened by slowing down the suspect, creating an opportunity for officers, who sprinted down the street, to arrest him.
Detective Sergeant Richard Dines from the City of London Police remarked:
‘If you’re visiting the City with the intent to steal mobile phones, you should anticipate encountering officers engaged in proactive patrols who will detain you and ensure you face justice.
‘We have retrieved a phone from the suspect which we believe may have been stolen. It is a silver iPhone adorned with two unique stickers on the back. One of the stickers is from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, dated the 7th of October.
‘If this phone belongs to you, or if you have any information about its rightful owner, please reach out to us at 020 7601 2222 quoting reference 616958.’
One suspect has been released on bail while further investigations are underway. Officers are actively pursuing leads to identify and arrest the remaining suspect.
If you wish to contact our news team, please email us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more articles like this, visit our news page.
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