Moment e-bike thug is caught behind string of phone thefts in London as police helicopter follows youths after snatching phone from woman’s hands

An e-bike thief who took a mobile phone from the hands of a woman sitting at a bus stop has been caught by police after a series of crimes.

A dramatic video shows the moment the thug, wearing all black and face coverings, drives onto the sidewalk, followed by a group of young people also riding e-bikes.

He then drives to a bus stop and steals the phone from the victim’s hands while she is using it.

The video was released by the Metropolitan Police, showing them following the driver in a police helicopter as he made off with the stolen phone.

In the video they identify the thief as someone who stole several phones.

At the end of the video, officers catch up with the suspect and he is arrested by police in a youth center.

In the video, an officer said: ‘We were approached by a member of the public who saw him throwing a fanny pack as he drove along Holton Road.

‘We have it in our possession, it contains several stolen phones, wrapped in aluminum foil.

Another officer said, “He doesn’t care about pedestrians.”

The Met Police have said officers recovered more than 750 stolen phones in the first half of this year.

Detective Chief Inspector Saj Hussain, Chief Inspector of Phone Robberies and Theft at the Met, previously said: ‘Thanks to these observant and quick-acting officers, another mobile phone thief has been taken off the streets of London.

‘We understand the impact a robbery can have on victims and we also recognize that there is much more to do to tackle the problem as we make London a safer place.

‘Met officers are focusing resources in hotspot areas with increased patrols and officers in plain clothes – and this result makes it clear that this approach is having a positive impact.

‘We encourage people to report as soon as possible if they have been the victim of a robbery or theft, so that officers can arrive on the scene and investigate quickly.’