Operation Astley 1

A gang of youths who 'steamed' dozens of major high street mobile phone shop chains to steal over a hundred thousand pounds worth of high value handsets and tablets were sentenced on Friday 22 March at Southwark Crown Court.

The eight, ranging in ages from 15 to 22 years, had all earlier pleaded guilty to one offence of conspiracy to commit burglary. They targeted 42 Carphone Warehouse stores all over London and surrounding areas between July and December 2012.

The group were arrested after an intelligence-led operation by the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit (NMPCU) having stolen around £150,000 worth of stock and caused £55,000 worth of damage during their six month spree.

The gang typically operated in a large group, meeting up and then travelling together to the venue they planned to steal from. Unwitting members of the public and shop staff were often caught up in the melee - including mothers being forcibly separated from their children - as the gang raced around the shops intimidating those who got in their way as they violently wrenched stock complete with wires from displays.

Operation Astley saw three of the police team, Detective Sergeant Lee Dempster, Detective Constable Charles Clawson, and Detective Constable Carlo Narboni commended by the judge for their work. The same team was also involved in another recent successful operation which targeted another steaming gang who targeted high street mobile phone shops. Operation Minogue saw 12 youths convicted in February.

Detective Inspector Mark Loving, from the NMPCU, said: "Due to the hard work and dedication of officers and staff from the NMPCU, eight males have been successfully convicted in relation to organised pan-London offending. This case should act as a warning to anyone involved in this type of activity that the Met and NMPCU will robustly and swiftly deal with those who use intimidation to fulfil their greed.

"The professionalism of the officers and staff, using a broad range of methods, has ensured that these individuals have been brought to justice, reducing the fear that these incidents cause to the local communities and members of the public. We have worked closely with key business partner Carphone Warehouse and local boroughs impacted by these offences, to obtain vital evidence and reduce the fear of crime created by these offences."