City Phone Thief Caught by His Own Shoe After Ludgate Hill Theft
A phone thief who tried to blend in with City commuters on a bike has been caught and convicted, thanks to the DNA he left behind on his trainer.
Spencer Duarte, 28, of Saffron Walden, pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court to one count of theft after snatching a phone at Ludgate Hill during a lunchtime theft on Wednesday 7th August 2024.
Duarte, who disguised himself in workwear and used an electric bike to make his getaway, was stopped in his tracks by a quick-thinking member of the public who tackled him to the ground. During the scuffle, Duarte dropped a rucksack, several phones – and a shoe.
Forensic teams from the City of London Police recovered the trainer and sent it for analysis. It was enough to match DNA already on the National DNA Database, identifying Duarte as the suspect.
“The slipper fitted our Cinderella,” said Andrew Walker, Physical Forensics Manager at the City of London Police. “We were able to get sufficient levels of DNA from the shoe to obtain a single, major profile suitable for searching the database.”
Duarte was arrested by Metropolitan Police officers on 9th September and brought to Bishopsgate Police Station for questioning. He admitted stealing the phone and carrying equipment used for further thefts, including face coverings and two rolls of kitchen foil, commonly used by phone thieves to block tracking signals.
CCTV footage showed members of the public intervening twice to stop Duarte from fleeing. After being knocked off his bike the first time, he attempted to get away but was tackled again. As he ran, he discarded his helmet, rucksack, and both shoes.
Police Constable Jake Dean, of the City of London Police, issued a clear warning:
“Do not come to the City and think you can steal from residents, workers or visitors without paying the penalty. Our targeted patrols, excellent police work and extensive CCTV will mean you will be caught and brought to justice.”
City of London Police continue to focus on reducing phone thefts and targeting repeat offenders. The use of forensic evidence, public vigilance, and rapid police response all played a role in this conviction.
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