A notorious gang of phone thieves operating out of London has been brought to justice, culminating in lengthy prison sentences for its members. Over the past 18 months, this group was implicated in the handling of more than 5,000 stolen mobile phones, amassing substantial profits from their illegal activities, totalling roughly £5.1 million. The London Metropolitan Police reported on November 29, 2024, about the gang's operations and eventual capture, underlining the severe impact these crimes have on the victims.
The members of this gang, who predominantly resided around Notting Hill, were sentenced recently after being found guilty of serious offenses including conspiracy to receive stolen goods and fraud. The severity of their actions was particularly evident as two of the four individuals went so far as to spend large sums of money taken directly from their victims’ bank accounts, ranging from designer purchases to even loans.
Among those sentenced was 31-year-old Zakaria Senadjki, who received the longest sentence of eight years, convicted of multiple counts, including conspiracy to commit fraud. Following Senadjki were 25-year-old Ahmed Abdelhakim Belhanafi, sentenced to four years and eight months, and Riyadh Mamouni, also 25, who was handed two years and eight months. The fourth member, 34-year-old Nazih Cheraitia, received three years and five months for his role.
Police investigations revealed how the gang operated: many of the stolen phones were sold abroad after being harvested from unsuspecting victims across London. The thefts were wider than just phones; victims reported losing thousands from their personal accounts, attributed to the criminals using their information to purchase high-end goods online.
The gang's unraveling began following numerous reports of stolen phones, prompting local law enforcement officers from the Lambeth and Southwark areas to act. Victims had alarmingly managed to track their stolen devices to two blocks of flats, leading local officers to launch extensive surveillance and investigation operations. Operation Ringtone, as the initiative was named, utilized tracking technology to monitor stolen phones, paving the way for police to prepare for coordinated raids.
On February 26, the police executed warrants early in the morning, resulting in the recovery of 170 phones believed to have been stolen. Despite these recoveries, officers expressed concern over the thousands of additional phones whose owners have yet to be identified, illustrating the extensive scale of the gang's impact.
Commander Owain Richards from the Metropolitan Police commented on the operation, remarking on the significant contributions of local officers who cooperated to apprehend the thieves. "We do not underestimate the impact these crimes have on Londoners and are doing all we can to tackle phone thefts. This includes increased policing in hotspot areas and making improved use of technology," he said.
While it's clear the police are taking proactive steps to combat phone theft, they recognize the need for cooperation from technology companies to mitigate the ease with which stolen devices can be resold. Moving forward, the Met plans to engage with these companies to develop more stringent measures against the resale of stolen phones.
Currently, the Metropolitan Police urges anyone who has lost or had their phone stolen to make use of the national mobile phone register. Registering phones not only helps in locating stolen devices but also assists authorities in returning them to their rightful owners. It's reported there were over 64,000 mobile phones reported stolen to the police last year, reflecting double the figures from two years previous.
Preventative measures for phone owners have also been highlighted by the Met, urging the use of strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and keeping one's IMEI number secured — all effective ways to help shield against fraud.
This case serves as both a cautionary tale and as evidence of law enforcement's commitment to combating such pervasive criminal activities. The highlighted sentences throw light on the serious repercussions of these crimes not just for the perpetrators but also for their many unsuspecting victims whose lives have been impacted significantly.
