POLICE have shared dramatic footage of the moment a phone snatcher is chased down and knocked off their bike before being arrested.
Sonny Stringer was apprehended by City of London Police officers after going on a phone-snatching spree on an e-bike, which saw him swipe a whopping 24 mobiles from the hands of pedestrians.
Following a short chase in the busy streets of Central London that saw Stringer reach speeds of 50mph, he was duly sent flying by an officer who ran his car into the thief’s bike.
Stringer was first spotted on CCTV stealing a phone before being sighted again later, near some officers who quickly turned on their lights and sirens and set off in pursuit.
The dramatic footage filmed on the dashcam of a police vehicle shows the moment they ram Stringer from his bike.
The thief rounds a corner and runs almost directly into the officer’s car, knocking him from his bike.
Stringer is quickly up on his feet and initially tries to flee but is quickly arrested before a foot chase can ensue.
CCTV shows officers jumping from their unmarked vehicle and rushing after the phone thief who gives up quickly on seeing them coming.
Stringer was subsequently arrested and charged after officers found the 24 stolen devices on his person.
The footage of the dramatic chase and arrest was shared to social media yesterday with the caption: “The successful capture and prosecution of prolific phone snatcher Sonny Stringer shows our focus on detecting and bringing to justice those who snatch phones.
“PC Smith who is trained in tactical pursuit and containment (TPAC), took the decision to make contact with his e-bike.”
The post has since received over 400 likes and more than 35 comments from social media users.
One user said: “Great work, London needs to see much more of this, as does many areas of the UK, proper policing earns respect and deters others from taking up crime.”
Another wrote: “Many phone snatchers in Mayfair area. On Park Lane especially.”
A third replied: “Well done all, this is so cool.”
Another commented: “Proper policing – great work.”
A fifth added: “What about those that are waving knives etc about? Daylight stabbings and murders? A phone can be replaced. An innocent live cannot.”
