Teenage cryptocurrency thieves arrested by police after detectives tracked their takeaway orders

Four teenagers have been jailed after stealing £115,000 worth of cryptocurrency during a series of armed robberies in the capital.

Daniel Boakye, 18, from Enfield, was jailed for six years and five months after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery at Wood Green Crown Court.

Nathan Mohalland, 19, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, robbery and possession of a sharp article. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with a further five years on licence.

Justin Popoola, 19, of Rushcroft Road, Chingford, was jailed for two and a half years after being convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery.

Another man, aged 17, was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery.

The court heard how the group carried out a series of robberies across London from June 2021 to January 2022.

The teens threatened the victims with knives and forced them to hand over their phones and provide the passcodes needed to unlock the devices.

They then siphoned victims’ cryptocurrency into “hot wallets”, resulting in the theft of over £155,000 worth of digital currency.

The group also used stored banking information to purchase recharge cards, taxi rides and carry out other fraudulent transactions.

Detectives were able to track them down after using the stolen banking information to order takeaway food from their home.

Detective James Green, from Specialist Crime Command, said: “In total there were 19 robberies as part of the plot during which 26 people were robbed. During my career as a police officer, I have not encountered such cowardly criminals.

“The group targeted innocent members of the public while armed with weapons in order to steal their mobile phones and digital currencies.

“They would insinuate that the victims were members of an opposing gang, when everyone knew they were innocent members of the public.”