Moment police 'catch thieves stuffing £19K of phones into bag' caught on camera

This is the moment undercover officers caught two teenagers allegedly stealing mobile phones valued at nearly £19k. Hertfordshire Police were on patrol in St Albans earlier this month when they clocked the duo behaving suspiciously.

The teens were reportedly caught red-handed as they crammed phones into a bag inside an EE store and were promptly arrested. Both were arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery after 26 iPhones were seized.

The suspects, a 16-year-old boy from Dulwich, London, and a 17-year-old boy from Chelmsford, in Essex, also arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer, were bailed on Thursday, August 7 for further enquiries to take place.

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Neighbourhood inspector Paul Caro said: "I hope this news reassures the community that our officers are working hard with local retailers to help tackle robbery and shoplifting, both uniformed and plain-clothes officers.

"Without knowing about what weapons they may have had, or threat posed, the officers acted on instinct and entered the store to catch the offenders in the act and make the arrests.

"Stealing from shops and businesses is not a victimless crime – it impacts on the stores and their employees but also leads to an increase in prices for all and really concerns people living and working locally."

A police spokesperson added: "The four Neighbourhood Policing officers were carrying out targeted patrols in the city's shopping area earlier this month when they spotted the pair acting suspiciously.

"Seeing them go to the back of the store, they acted swiftly, arresting both males on suspicion of attempted robbery, and recovering some 26 iPhones.

"The suspects, a 16-year-old boy from Dulwich, London, and a 17-year-old boy from Chelmsford, in Essex, also arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer, were bailed on Thursday 7 August for further enquiries to take place."