Two pickpockets who targeted Uxbridge town centre using the tactic of bumping into their victims before stealing from them have been found guilty at Uxbridge Magistrates court last week.
Andriyana Nikolaeva, 26, of no fixed abode was found guilty of theft and Stafani Yordanova, 19, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of handling stolen goods at Uxbridge Magistrates court last Tuesday (5 April).
The court heard that on Monday 4April, Uxbridge Business Improvement District (BID) security were contacted after a report of a mobile phone being stolen. The victim stated that she had been ‘bumped into’ prior to her phone being stolen.
As a result of CCTV enquiries, Nikolaeva and Yordanova were identified and were tracked and located at Uxbridge Tube Station. The stolen mobile phone was found on Nikolaeva along with two other mobile phones.
Both were arrested for theft and handling stolen goods and subsequently charged and placed on remand prior to their appearance at Uxbridge Magistrates court.
Nikolaeva was sentenced to 26 weeks suspended sentence and to pay costs amounting to £213.
Yordanova was sentenced to 18 weeks suspended for two years and to pay costs amounting to £213.
PC Tracey Fane from the Uxbridge Town Centre Team said: “This is a clear demonstration of good collaboration with the Uxbridge BID security and the local police. We will continue to protect Uxbridge Town Centre from thieves and we are hoping that this will send a clear message for those who come into the town centre to commit crime.
“Please be aware of this type of act by pickpockets and please report anything suspicious to the police or alert the security staff”.
