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Laptop Thief Jailed for £31k Spree
13 Jan
Summary
- An Algerian migrant received an 18-month prison sentence for stealing laptops.
- The spree involved 16 victims and nearly £31,000 worth of stolen goods.
- He was caught unwrapping a stolen laptop while handing it to an accomplice.
Munir Ghilas, an Algerian national, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for a series of laptop thefts that occurred between August 5 and September 25 last year. The 28-year-old targeted 16 victims in bars across central London, accumulating stolen goods valued at £31,717. Ghilas's criminal activities continued even after his initial arrest and release on police bail.
Ghilas's modus operandi involved identifying distracted patrons in pubs after work hours, often with an accomplice. He would use simple tactics to transfer laptops from victims' bags into his own. Despite being arrested on August 21 and later assaulting a police officer on September 25, he evaded capture until October 23, when he was found unwrapping a stolen laptop to hand to an accomplice.
Appearing via videolink from HMP Wandsworth, Ghilas admitted to 18 counts of theft, handling stolen goods, and assaulting an emergency worker. He claimed his actions were driven by a cocaine and alcohol addiction. The judge emphasized the seriousness of the offences, necessitating an immediate custodial sentence. Ghilas is also liable for automatic deportation following his release.
