Bag thief jailed and banned from City

A prolific thief who targeted pubs in the City of London has been banned from entering the Square Mile.

Mohamed Dhahri, 25, of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court to 16 months in prison for a series of thefts in the City and an affray conviction in the Metropolitan Police area.

The court also handed Dhahri a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), banning him from entering the City of London for five years.

Detective Sergeant Helen Bentley, of the City of London Police, said:

“With Mohamed Dhahri behind bars and also given a CBO banning him from entering the City, we hope that this will give reassurance to businesses, retail staff and also shoppers, as well as act as a deterrent to others thinking of criminal activity. 

“We take such offences very seriously and this is a warning that we will bring those committing crimes in the City to justice.”

Dhahri was convicted of four counts of theft from the person:

• On 29 February, he stole a bag and personal items from The Pelt Trader with a total value of £1,000;
• On 5 March, he stole a bag and multiple personal electronic items from the Sugarloaf with a total value of £3,000;
• On 15 April, Dhahri took a laptop and a tablet from The Woodin Shades with a total value of £2,000; and
• On 15 July, he stole a bag with a laptop from Bloomberg Arcade, valued at £2,000.