Moment moped phone snatchers who stole 72 phones in six weeks targeted lone commuters using phones

Two mobile phone thieves who stole 72 phones from a moped in just six weeks have been jailed.

Randy Kavungu, 21, and Darius James, 22, rode a black Beverly ST350 toward their victims from behind at high speed, with the passenger in the operation later snatching the phone.

One victim had coffee thrown in the face, while another had a broken finger.

The robbers struck between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., targeting lone morning commuters who were using their phones on their way to work.

Randy Kavungu (pictured left), 21, and Darius James (pictured right), 22, rode a black Beverly ST350 toward their victims from behind at high speed, with the passenger grabbing the telephone.

The thieves covered its license plate before carrying out the robberies between May 24 and June 30, 2021, so there was no easy way to link the motorcycle to the suspects.

The police used open police patrols, CCTV, witness testimony and other communication data to create a profile of the two criminals.

Both were arrested on July 14, 2021.

The thieves covered its license plate before carrying out the robberies between May 24 and June 30, 2021, so there was no easy way to link the motorcycle to the suspects.

The police used open police patrols, CCTV, witness testimony and other communication data to create a profile of the two criminals.

Both were arrested on July 14, 2021. At the Kavungu address, officers found a blue Nike jacket and a black Spada helmet, the same ones seen on security cameras of the incidents. A black puffer jacket, also worn by one of the suspects for several days, was found at James’s address.

In the image: video capture of one of the crimes taking place. The robbers struck between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. as they targeted lone morning commuters who were using their phones on their way to work.

At the Kavungu address, officers found a blue Nike jacket and a black Spada helmet, the same ones seen on security cameras of the incidents.

A black puffer jacket, also worn by one of the suspects for several days, was found at James’s address.

Kavungu, of Union Square, Islington, and James, of Old Farm Road, Barnet, pleaded guilty at Hendon Magistrates Court on Tuesday 3rd January to offenses including robbery and threatening with an offensive weapon. They were sentenced to four and a half years in prison each.

Randy Kavungu, 21, and Darius James, 22, were each sentenced to four and a half years in prison.

Detective Inspector Alan Biggs, of Operation Venice, said: “Kavungu and James set out with a pre-agreed plan to steal the phones of as many people as they could, using a moped to target lone victims in open spaces.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Lee Hill, head of the violent crime task force, said: “Our Operation Venice team was created in direct response to a rise in moped robberies and, as this case demonstrates, they have been working since then to target repeat offenders. and related series of crimes throughout the capital’

Detective Inspector Alan Biggs, of Operation Venice, said: “Kavungu and James set out with a pre-arranged plan to steal the phones of as many people as they could, using a moped to attack lone victims in open spaces.”

“They did not take into account the damage that could have been caused by their dangerous driving and it is only by extreme fortune that no one was injured more seriously.”

“We were determined to catch these two suspects who were causing so much damage within our city. Our investigation involved the examination of hundreds of hours of CCTV as well as complex mobile phone analyses, and we are pleased that this means they will now be off our streets and unable to commit any further crime for a long time to come.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Lee Hill, head of the violent crime task force, said: “Our Operation Venice team was created in direct response to a rise in moped robberies and, as this case demonstrates, they have been working since then to target repeat offenders. and linked series of crimes throughout the capital.

“The team has unique insight into crime patterns and how these gangs operate, helping our uniformed officers conduct patrols in critical locations.

“This means they can be in the right place at the right time more often to prevent more crime and hopefully catch those trying to commit crime in the act.”