Phone Thief Caught and Jailed After Blitz in Central London
A notorious mobile phone thief has been banged up for over two years following a brazen snatching spree across central London.
Oliver Brady, 27, from Edmonton, was locked away for two years and three months at the Old Bailey. He pled guilty to multiple offences, including two counts of theft, seven counts of handling stolen goods, common assault, driving crimes, and violating a Criminal Behaviour Order.
Snatch and Chaos on London Streets
Brady’s crime spree started early on 6 February 2025 when he targeted Neda Rana, a visually impaired woman, on Fetter Street. The sudden phone grab caused her to fall, leaving her shaken both physically and emotionally.
“The shock, the pain… it was emotionally exhausting,” Neda shared.
The same morning, Brady hit again outside Haberdashers’ Hall, stealing a phone from Nicky Jones. Luckily, a quick-thinking witness, Alex South, an Assistant Beadle, stepped in and made Brady drop the device.
“I’m so glad I got my phone back,” said Nicky. “It all happened so fast, I was really shaken.”
Brady made one more grab attempt on Cock Lane, but this time, the victim’s phone was recovered.
Stash Uncovered and Phones Returned
Police found Brady carrying nine mobile phones. Three were confirmed stolen in the City of London and handed back to their owners. The other six were nicked across the wider Metropolitan Police area, including locations like Malet Street, King’s College London, and Camden.
Victims have since collected their devices from Bishopsgate police station.
Police Hit Back with Blue Plaques and Safety Advice
As part of a public awareness push, City of London Police installed blue plaques along pavements where Brady struck, warning pedestrians to stay alert.
“Thanks to swift police action and the public’s help, we recovered the phones and brought Brady to justice,” praised Detective Sergeant Amy Westall. “We urge everyone to set up Medical ID and mark their phones to help us reunite stolen or lost devices with their owners.”
Police continue to urge the public to register their devices and stay vigilant to prevent theft.
If you think your phone was stolen on 6 February 2025, contact the City of London Police immediately.
