A 14-year-old boy who took part in a masked raid at a Brent Cross Apple store, in which 50 iPhones worth £49,550 were stolen, has been ordered to pay compensation from his pocket money to the two security guards overwhelmed during the robbery.
The Croydon Youth Court heard that a gang of five males stormed the store on January 5, stripping the high-value iPhones from display. During the incident, one security guard was threatened with a knife, forcing him to back off.
Court Ruling
District Judge Sushil Kumar told the boy, who was not the ringleader or the one who issued the stabbing threat, that he had taken part in “very serious and planned offending”, which, if he were an adult, could have led to years in jail.
The teenager, who had pleaded guilty to robbery, was handed a nine-month referral order and ordered to pay £100 to each of the two security guards. His only income is his pocket money, the court was told by his mother, who sat beside him during the hearing.
The judge said:
“Bearing in mind your pocket money, I’m satisfied that compensation of £100 each, £200 in total, would be appropriate.”
‘Terrifying and Scary’ Incident
The court heard that the boy had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and acknowledged that the incident must have been “terrifying and scary” for both customers and bystanders, including a young family with children.
The judge said the compensation order was designed to act as an additional punishment while remaining manageable for the teenager.
“Over the course of the year, you can budget for it and pay compensation for these two persons.”
Gang’s Crime at Brent Cross
The shocking robbery was part of a wider crime spree targeting high-value tech stores. The gang, all wearing masks, overpowered the security guards before making off with the stolen iPhones.
Police are continuing their investigations into the remaining suspects, and further arrests may follow.
Ongoing Youth Crime Concerns
The case has raised concerns about youth involvement in organised retail crime, with authorities warning that such coordinated thefts will not be treated lightly by the courts.
Anyone with further information on this incident is urged to contact Metropolitan Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.
