A violent robbery ring responsible for 35 knife-point robberies in London has been brought down by police.
The balaclava-clad thugs were caught on CCTV attacking young people on buses and in shops to steal their phones and other high value items.
The gang operated around East London and left their victims shaken by the threat of violence, often holding them at knife point.
Nine of the thugs were arrested in a series of coordinated raids on August 24 last year.
They have each now been sentenced with penalties ranging from jail time to community orders, depending on their level of involvement.
The Met Police identified the criminals by trawling through hours of CCTV footage and tracking their mobile phone data.
Kenzie Taylor was the leader the conspiracy, whereas Bilal Ashfaq fuelled the gang’s violence by facilitating the sale of stolen goods.
The Met Police said in a video released on social media: ‘This was not just a series of random attacks, it was a well-organised operation with a clear hierarchy.
‘They targeted high value items, including mobile phones and designer clothing.
Ashfaq acted as the handler and ensured that stolen phones were quickly sold, police said.
Many of the devices were tracked to international locations such as Ukraine, Pakistan and Ghana.
The Met Police continued: ‘Using meticulous evidence gathering techniques, officers matched suspects to robbery scenes.
‘Side by side comparisons of suspects and CCTV images, alongside positive identifications by victims, helped to build a strong case.
‘Phone data played a key role, showing communications between Taylor and Ashfaq and tracing stolen phones as they were sold abroad.
‘This operation highlights the importance of thorough investigative work and the need to disrupt organised crime at every level.
‘By taking these offenders off the streets, we’ve made our communities safer and sent a clear message – We will not tolerate violence.’