Tower Hamlets pair among eight arrested in moped crime crackdown

Eight people, including two from Tower Hamlets, have been arrested as part of a police operation to combat criminals who use mopeds.

A 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary, with a 29-year-old arrested at a separate address on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

Yesterday’s operation also saw a man and a woman, both 19, arrested on suspicion of theft, two boys aged 15 and 17 arrested on suspicion of robbery and two men, aged 21 and 42, arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.

The 17-year-old is so far the only one to have been charged.

Two mopeds, a moped engine, a number of mobile phones and quantity of cash were recovered as part of the operation, which saw 10 search warrants executed across Tower Hamlets and Islington.

Det Supt Sean Yates said: “These arrests are the result of an ongoing operation targeting offenders who are using mopeds to commit crime across north London.

“We are committed to detecting, disrupting and arresting those involved in moped-enabled offences using a variety of tactics to disrupt these organised crime networks.

“The use of mopeds, often stolen, in the course of criminal offences is a common tactic used by thieves and organised criminal networks in London and offences range from commercial burglaries to personal robberies.

“We will continue to target these offenders to safeguard members of the community and their personal property.”