Robbers on mopeds have been jailed for snatching handbags from lone women at night - to pay for a McDonald's meal.
Two thieves who rode a scooter through Westminster and robbed people of their possessions were caught on camera ending one of their stealing sprees with bags of fast food from the fast food restaurant.
Joynul Ali, 20, of Tavistock Crescent, Westminster, was jailed for five years, whilst Hamza El-Guerbouzi, 19, of Ashmore Road, Westminster, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment at Southwark Crown Court on Friday (July 21).
Moped-enabled thefts
The pair went on stealing sprees in the City of Westminster, while riding a stolen scooter - with Ali as the rider of the scooter and El-Guerbouzi as pillion.
Back in December 7 2016, they robbed two people, seven days later, they robbed six people and on December 22 2016, they attempted to rob one person.
The thieves particularly targeted lone women and snatched their handbags from their shoulders.
Some of the victims were injured - one was knocked unconscious and suffered a broken collar bone.
After an investigation by Westminster Crime Squad the pair were identified through CCTV.
Footage showed El-Guerbouzi wearing a distinctive helmet whilst attempting to withdraw cash from an ATM, 15 minutes after they had robbed a woman of her handbag, in Marylebone Road, on December 14 2016.
Ten minutes later, the pair used the woman's bank card to buy food from McDonald's on Kilburn High Road.
Ali was arrested at his home address on January 9 this year and El-Guerbouzi was found and arrested the following day on Queensway, near Hyde Park, and was found in possession of a knife.
Both were charged with conspiracy to commit robbery after the stolen property was found in their homes.
Detective Inspector Gill Collinson, from the Westminster Crime Squad, said: "This was a fantastic result, which has seen two perpetrators of audacious and violent robberies from scooters receive a lengthy time in jail.
"These sentences send out a strong message that such incidents will be dealt with robustly by the Met and the courts.
"Police are working hard to keep the public safe and make the streets hostile territory for criminals who use scooters, mopeds, motorbikes and bicycles to snatch valuables from members of the public.
"It is imperative that the public are aware of their surroundings at all times and keep their phones secure as this crime happens in an instant."
"Perpetrators of these crimes steal peoples' scooters, motorcycles and mopeds in order to commit their offences.
"Therefore all riders are urged to improve the security of their vehicles - particularly by securing the back wheel with two chain locks.
"They can also use fitted anchors, security loops, disc and audible alarms."
Ali had previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, at Southwark Crown Court on February 8.
And El-Guerbouzi was found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery, at Southwark Crown Court on May 26 after a five-day trial.
He also pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public place and received an additional six months to run concurrently.
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