Tuesday 22 November 2022

Heartless Pickpocket Locked-Up

A prolific pickpocket, who targeted female rail passengers, is starting a 45-week prison sentence.

Giuvadin Mahmet, 47, struck at Paddington; London Bridge; King's Cross; Reading and Canning Town stations.

He travelled down from his north of England home in De Grey Street, Kingston-upon-Hull.

On Thursday, August 11 he stole an iPhone and £300 cash from a grandmother at Paddington station after shoving two children aside to slide behind her.

On September 15 he targeted a mum at Canning Town station as she was returning from her daughter’s graduation.

She felt Mahmet close in behind her and seemingly nudge her in the back. 

After he left the train she noticed her handbag was undone and her purse, containing £80, stolen.

In the same month, he followed a wife and husband up the escalators at Paddington station.

The victim suddenly felt her bag become light at the top of the escalators and as she turned Mahmet was heading back down to the platform. 

She shouted after him and followed, but he disappeared among the crowds. 

Cards and cash were stolen.

His image, taken from CCTV footage of his crimes, was passed around British Transport Police officers throughout London. 

He was spotted walking through London Bridge station on Friday, October 21 and arrested.

Further investigations by BTPs reactive theft of passenger property team linked him to seven cases of theft, one case of attempted theft and one case of fraud by false representation.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court, where he pleaded guilty to all counts and was sentenced to 45 weeks in jail, plus financial penalties totalling £3,000.

In total Mahmet admitted stealing £120 cash and a purse at Paddington station on September 17 and attempting to steal property from another woman at the station on August 11.

He admitted the Canning Town theft, plus the theft of a Samsung Galaxy A9, worth £400, from a male in Paddington station on September 22.

He admitted another iPhone theft at Paddington station on September 30 and stealing the same item at Reading station on October 4.

He also pleaded guilty to stealing from the grandmother and using a stolen debit card to purchase items worth £13.99 and stealing an iPhone from a female at London Bridge Station on October 19.

Inspector Sharon Turner, of BTPs Priority Crime Taskforce, said: “Pickpockets are attracted to large crowds and places where distractions come easy. 

“This is why busy train stations, and travellers who are focused on their journeys, are often a primary target.

“We’re proactive about stopping these offences and have plain clothed officers across the network, especially at main stations, watching for and arresting pickpockets.

“When items are stolen, we distribute witness accounts and CCTV pictures of offenders among our officers, to help ensure the next time they enter a station they’re arrested.”

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