Phone thief caught red-handed hours after snatching mobiles in London

A thief was tracked down using phone tracking data after he swiped devices from two victims in London.

Amari Scott, 20, still had both mobiles in his possession when police found him inside a shop the same afternoon.

Bodycam footage captured the moment an officer told him: ‘We’ve just had a moped rob a mobile phone off the pavement and the phone is pinging in this location.’

Scott, from Sutton in South London, was also found to have a stolen motorbike in his possession.

In an update on what they’re doing to tackle phone theft, police told how he first targeted a woman holding an iPhone in Croydon, which he snatched from her hands while riding a moped.

if(window.adverts) { adverts.addToArray({"pos": "mpu_mobile_top"}) } if(window.adverts) { adverts.addToArray({"pos": "mpu_tablet"}) }

He has been been sentenced to four years in a young offenders’ institution.

Less than an hour later, a report came into police that another victim had had their phone stolen while they waited for a bus.

{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Metro.co.uk","duration":"T52S","thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2024\/09\/29\/08\/90233109-0-image-a-1_1727594954724.jpg","uploadDate":"2024-09-29T08:27:13+0100","description":"A woman in Croydon had her iPhone snatched out of her hands by an offender on a moped. The woman reported the incident to Croydon Police Station.\n\nThe man was arrested following a swift police response, with officers using real-time phone tracking data to locate him. Officers identified him the same day, where he was still in possession of the stolen phones.","contentUrl":"https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2024\/09\/29\/5989449151933006794\/480x270_MP4_5989449151933006794.mp4","height":270,"width":480}

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser thatsupports HTML5 video

Up Next window.addEventListener('metroVideo:relatedVideosCarouselLoaded', function(data) { if (typeof(data.detail) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel.el_) === 'undefined') { return; } var player = data.detail.carousel.el_; var container = player.closest('.metro-video-player'); var placeholder = container.querySelector('.metro-video-player__up-next-placeholder'); container.removeChild(placeholder); container.classList.add('metro-video-player--related-videos-loaded'); });

Urging people to report such thefts quickly, police said ‘early reporting has enabled officers to get to the scene promptly and start collecting crucial evidence’ which ‘significantly increases the likelihood of apprehending a suspect’.

Two other phone thieves, this time teenagers aged 16 and 17, were also caught after a spree of robberies across Croydon and Bromley on August 5.

Latest London news I’m paying £1,250 for my Acton flat — but a little-known scheme means I’ll buy it in three yearsThe unassuming London car park hiding a huge 22-mile network of cavesBest London beer halls and events to Celebrate Oktoberfest 2024

To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro.co.uk's London news hub.

Police began investigating after a victim was robbed at knifepoint. Officers found two discarded kitchen knives and analysed hours’ worth of CCTV.

More Trending

Full list of 290 Boots UK stores closures revealed - with more set to follow

Full list of 292 Lloyds bank branches closing between 2024 and 2025

Woman last seen on night out in Soho a week ago found dead

Mystery after boy, 9, dies on way back from family holiday

Read More Stories

Phone records showed the two teenagers were present at the locations of the reported robberies, and detectives were able to prove they were responsible for eight other robberies.

The two pleaded guilty to robbery, attempted robbery and attempted grievous bodily harm.

Chief Inspector James Weston said: ‘We understand the impact that robbery has on victims – it is invasive and frightening. That’s why our teams are working so hard to deter and catch offenders to reassure our local community.

‘Thanks to the hard work of officers, our partners and community grassroots organisations, we are stepping up our efforts and tackling the issues that matter most to the people of Croydon.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

if(window.adverts) { adverts.addToArray({"pos": "mpu_mobile"}) }

For more stories like this, check our news page.

if(window.adverts) { adverts.addToArray({"pos": "mpu_mobile_mid"}) } if(window.adverts) { adverts.addToArray({"pos": "mpu_tablet_mid"}) }

Sign Up for News UpdatesGet your need-to-know latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and moreSign up

Privacy Policy

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Phone thief caught red-handed hours after snatching mobiles in London

Phone thief caught red-handed hours after snatching mobiles in London

Phone thief caught red-handed hours after snatching mobiles in London

Phone thief caught red-handed hours after snatching mobiles in London

Phone thief caught red-handed hours after snatching mobiles in London