Metropolitan Police officers raided a shop in Brixton suspected of handling and selling stolen phones, arresting three staff members as part of a two-week operation codenamed Zoridon.
The raid, which was attended by Metro, saw a convoy of emergency vehicles stop near Electric Avenue. An officer carrying an 'enforcer' – a handheld battering ram – led the team to the door of a phone, electricians and watch shop, but the tool was not needed as the officers entered through the open door.
Search uncovers suspected stolen devices
Officers searched cabinets full of iPhones and other smartphones, using UV torches to inspect the devices. Many newer tech releases have a coating that allows law enforcement to trace details of the handset and who it is registered to.
The search uncovered several devices believed to have been stolen, one of them years before. Officers bagged up all the phones and handcuffed the three shop staff, arresting them on suspicion of handling stolen goods.
Police use 'chemical DNA' to trace stolen property
Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes told Metro: 'These shops are undercutting legitimate businesses and the public are concerned about it. We are using chemical DNA to show up property that has been stolen.'
The men were questioned about their role in the business as officers searched through hundreds of boxes containing phones. A crowd gathered outside, with some who had left their phone for repair told by police that all stock was being held until checks were made.
One man begged: 'Come on, bruv, I need my phone. It's not stolen.'
Broader crackdown on stolen goods
An officer explained the laws around seizing potentially stolen goods, saying anything found not to have been part of a crime would be returned to the shop.
In a briefing prior to the raid, Deputy Commissioner Jukes said he had toured all of London's boroughs, speaking to local people about how these crimes had made them feel unsafe in their communities. He told assembled officers and representatives of the retail industry that crimes like selling stolen property and shoplifting were high on the agenda at Scotland Yard, adding: 'We are going to boot sales; we have seen premium goods, chocolates, cosmetics in boot sales.'
