Burglars used Grindr to fulfill and goal victims in ‘callous’ phone-swiping operation | EUROtoday

Two males used Grindr to fulfill and goal victims earlier than assembly them at their properties and stealing their telephones in a sequence of “callous, calculated, and pre-planned offences”, police stated.

Rahmat Khan Mohammadi, 22, and Mohammed Bilal Hotak, 21, would begin conversations with “unsuspecting” males on the courting app earlier than arranging to fulfill them at their properties.

There, the pair would use a sequence of “distraction tactics” to entry the handsets earlier than making a fast getaway, typically accessing financial institution accounts on the telephones to make funds and withdraw cash.

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They had been discovered responsible of housebreaking, fraud and theft at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday, and might be sentenced at a later date.

The Metropolitan Police stated they launched an investigation after being alerted to studies of a number of cellphone thefts throughout the capital, with all of the victims focused in the identical manner.

Mohammadi and Hotak would join and provoke conversations with males over Grindr and organize to fulfill them at their properties. Once there, they might uncover cell phone passwords earlier than stealing their handsets and making a fast exit from the property, typically utilizing a getaway car ready close by, police stated.

The pair would then entry the sufferer’s private information to make funds, withdraw cash or switch funds to different accounts. In some instances, they might steal different excessive worth gadgets comparable to wallets, passports and watches.

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Superintendent Owen Renowden, the Met’s hate crime lead who oversaw the investigation, stated he “welcomed” the conviction, including the Met is “fully committed to ensuring all communities in London feel safe”.

“Mohammadi and Hotak carried out a series of callous, calculated, pre-planned offences across London, targeting unsuspecting men and resulting in high-value items and money being stolen, and I welcome today’s outcome at court,” he stated.

“I’d like to praise the victims who have shown great strength throughout our investigation, as well the Met’s LGBT+ Advisory Group and the LGBT+ anti-abuse charity, GALOP, which enabled us to ensure we conducted our work with sensitivity and care.

“The Met is fully committed to ensuring all communities in London feel safe, as well as continuing to enhance the trust and confidence LGBT+ people place in us. Organised crime has a devastating impact on society and will simply not be tolerated.”