'Cinderella Snatcher' Mobile Phone Thief Caught By Training Shoe DNA

A mobile phone thief – dubbed by City of London Police as the 'Cinderella Snatcher' after his missing trainer identified him – has admitted his crime.

Spencer Duarte, 27, of Bromfield House, Bromfield, Saffron Walden, Essex was caught by traces of DNA in the footwear, which he lost during a scuffle with a have-a-go-hero.

He pleaded guilty to stealing a mobile phone from Brian de Clare in the Square Mile on August 7, last year.

Duarte also admitted going equipped for theft with face masks and tin foil, used to wrap stolen phones to block their location and ability to be traced.

Inner London Crown Court heard Duarte, who will be sentenced on a future date, was dressed as a commuter and riding an electric bike in Ludgate Hill.

At approximately 12.00pm he struck, snatching a mobile phone from a pedestrian's hand and was tackled by a member of the public, who knocked him off the bike.

During the melee Duarte lost the training shoe and his rucksack, with three mobile phones falling to the ground.

Crime scene investigators recovered the trainer left at the scene, which was then sent to be forensically analysed.

Physical Forensics Manager Andrew Walker, of the City of London Police, said:“We were able to get sufficient levels of DNA from the shoe to obtain a single, major profile that was suitable for searching against the National DNA Database.

“This search generated a ‘hit’ to a male whose profile had previously been uploaded. 

The slipper fitted our Cinderella and we were able to bring him before the courts.”

Duarte was spotted and stopped by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service on September 9 and brought to Bishopsgate police station for interview, where he was arrested on suspicion of theft from a person.

Police Constable Jake Dean, of the City of London Police, said:

“Do not come to the City and think you can steal from residents, workers or visitors without paying the penalty. 

“Our targeted patrols, excellent police work and extensive CCTV will mean you will be caught and brought to justice.

“Phone snatching has a significant impact on victims and our key priority has been to reduce the number of phones stolen and relentlessly target those criminals responsible.”

After initially being tackled and falling off his bike, Duarte attempted to flee, but was then pulled from his bike a second time.

He then made off on foot, losing his shoe and his rucksack, which had a pack of disposable face coverings and two rolls of kitchen foil.

Duarte was also seen discarding his cycle helmet and the other shoe.