a man from Manchester was sentenced after being found guilty of theft and detectives have released CCTV of the three incidents that were caught on camera.
A man, aged in his 30s, was unknowingly caught on CCTV committing these crimes in Manchester city centre. In each offence, he was seen cycling past on his pushbike at speed before snatching phones from his victims on busy high streets, with no regard for people’s safety.
He was responsible for three thefts across Manchester city centre and in each of the offences he targeted people who were on their phone in public. He had a very clear and organised set up as he is seen riding his bike past potential victims before turning round and coming up behind them to steal their phones.
Detectives from Manchester Central neighbourhood crime team have worked meticulously to follow up on a number of CCTV enquiries and have also spoken to many witnesses which led them directly to the man.
On 16 June 2024, a woman was walking down Adair Street in the city centre at 3.30pm, the victim said that someone came behind her on a bicycle whilst she was walking and snatched her phone, the victim started to chase the offender, but he was gone too quickly.
Three days later on 19 June, another victim, a woman in her twenties was on a video call to her friend on her phone as she walked on Upper Brook Street in the city centre, the man cycled past her and swiped her mobile phone.
A day after on the 20 June, a woman was stood on the corner of Swan Street on her phone, the man again, came from behind on his bicycle and snatched the phone out of her hands before quickly cycling away.
Detective Inspector Natalie McDonald of GMP’s Manchester Central neighbourhood team, said: “The victims, left without their phones and on the street, were rightly shaken by the incidents as we can see just how quickly the offences happened. In the blink of an eye their phones were stolen.
“Throughout the trial, he showed little to no remorse for his victims –who were understandably affected by these incidents. There might not be any physical injuries as a result, but mobile phones hold a lot of precious memories and pictures which are irreplaceable.
