They reportedly stole over £115,000 worth of cryptocurrency by carrying out 19 thefts between June 2021 and January 2022.
A spokesperson for Met Police has shared in a press release that the gang used knives to threaten their 26 victims. They would then force them to hand over their phones and share their passcode to unlock their devices.
Once they have got access to their phones, the burglars would then siphon off the victims’ cryptocurrency into “hot wallets”.
The group, the spokesperson added, also used stored bank information to purchase top-up cards, taxi journeys and complete “other fraudulent transactions”.
They were however caught after detectives identified their home addresses from takeaway orders they paid for using stolen bank details.
A series of warrants were issued by officers in May this year at these addresses and the four teenagers were arrested.
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They were later charged for conspiracy to commit robbery and were sentenced on Thursday (July 6) to a total of more than 23 years in jail.
Daniel Boakye, 18, of Alma Road in Enfield was sentenced to six years and five month’s imprisonment after being convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery, plus an additional incident of robbery.
Nathan Mohalland, 19, of Manor Road in Hackney was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment with 5 additional years on licence. In addition to being convicted for robberies, he was also charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, robbery and possession of a bladed article.
Justin Popoola, 19, of Rushcroft Road in Chingford was sentenced to two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment.
Another teenager, a 17-year-old male, was sentenced to two years and nine months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery.
Boakye, Popoola and the 17-year-old were sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court; Mohalland was sentenced separately at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
Detective Constable James Green, of the Specialist Crime Command, said in a statement that he had not come across criminals of “such a cowardly” nature in his career.
The group, he added, singled out “innocent members of public” whilst armed with weapons to rob them of their mobile phones and digital currencies.
He said: “They would insinuate that the victims were members of an opposing gang, whilst all knew that these were innocent members of the public.”
