Victoria Station Phone Thief Caught By BTP

A phone thief has been locked-up for nicking a phone from a food vendor at busy Victoria station as suspicious plain-clothed police watched.

British Transport Police (BTP) officers watched Hamza Esguioui, 28, loiter near the food outlet's counter and swooped after witnessing the theft.

At Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court he pleaded guilty to one count of theft and received two months imprisonment.

The offence triggered a suspended sentence for fraud Esguioui had previously been convicted of and he received four months imprisonment for the breach.

The court heard how on Wednesday, September 24 plain clothed BTP officers on patrol at London Victoria station noticed Esguioui paying close attention to other commuters and their bags.

Officers began to observe Esguioui due to his behaviour, and watched as he sat near to the counter of a food outlet.

He then swiped a member of staff's phone worth £800 from the counter and rose to leave, unaware that he was being watched by police and that his actions were in full view of the station CCTV cameras.

Plain clothes officers immediately intervened, stopping and arresting Esguioui as the member of staff came over to report that their phone had been stolen.

When interviewed later in the day, Esguioui offered no explanation nor showed any remorse for his actions.

Esguioui was on bail for a theft at Paddington railway station that he had committed only five days before on Friday, September 19.

Investigating officer PC Robert Whitehead said: "I'm very pleased with the result in this case. 

“Esguioui acted with a remarkable degree of impudence in attempting to swipe a phone in full view of our officers.

"I hope that this result encourages Esguioui to change his ways, and that it sends a message to would-be criminals that we do not tolerate theft or robbery on the railway network and will continue to prosecute those that would target others for their own gain."