"Last autumn, the Met Police began to receive reports of several phone thefts across the capital, with all the victims targeted in the same way. Afghan nationals Mohammadi and Hotak would identify victims and reach out ot them on Grindr before arranging to meet them at their homes. Once inside, Mohammadi and Hotak would use a range of distraction tactics to obtain mobile phone passwords before stealing their victims' handsets and making a quick exit from the property, often using a getaway vehicle waiting nearby."
"The pair would then access the victim's personal data to make payments, withdraw money or transfer funds to other accounts. In some cases, they also stole items such as wallets, passports and watches. Mohammadi was arrested on April 3 and charged with one count of theft, 17 counts of burglary and 12 fraud offences two days later. Meanwhile, Hotak was arrested on April 24 and charged the following day with one count of theft, 14 counts of burglary and nine fraud offences."
An organised crime group carried out 35 burglaries and 20 related frauds between October and March, affecting 22 victims across London. Two men, Rahmat Khan Mohammadi, 23, and Mohammed Bilal Hotak, 21, targeted victims by contacting them on the dating app Grindr and arranging to meet at their homes. Once inside, they used distraction tactics to obtain mobile passwords, then stole phones and accessed personal data to make payments, withdraw or transfer funds; some victims lost wallets, passports and watches. Mohammadi was arrested on April 3 and Hotak on April 24; both face sentencing pending further proceedings. Police and LGBT+ groups were commended for sensitive handling of the investigation.
Read at www.standard.co.uk
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