A gang of youths who barged into mobile phone shops violently pulling stock out of sockets and intimidating anybody who got in their way have been jailed.

The gang of eight stole around £150,000 worth of stock and caused £55,000 worth of damage during their six month stealing spree between July and December 2012.

In total they burgled 42 Carphone Warehouse stores across London. 

All eight pleaded guilty to one offence of conspiracy to commit burglary and were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, March 22.

Kingston man Perry Hedges, 18, of Howard Road, was sentenced to 26 months detention in a young offenders institution.

Emmanuel Kakala, 18, of Cargreen Road, South Norwood, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment suspended for two years and 80 hours community service.

Samuel Warnes 20, of Egleston Road, Morden, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years, and 12 months supervision.

Jahreau Shepherd, 22, of Orsett Street, Kennington, was sentenced to four years imprisonment.

Ugo Wilson, 21, of Aviation Drive, Barnet who was sentenced to 27 months.

Three teenagers from Wandsworth, Hillingdon and Lambeth who cannot be named for legal reasons, were also convicted and given a total of 40 months detention and training.

Detective Inspector Mark Loving, from the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit, said: "Due to the hard work and dedication of officers, eight males have been successfully convicted in relation to organised pan-London offending.

"This case should act as a warning to anyone involved in this type of activity that the Met will robustly and swiftly deal with those who use intimidation to fulfil their greed.

"The professionalism of the officers and staff, using a broad range of methods, has ensured that these individuals have been brought to justice, reducing the fear that these incidents cause to the local communities and members of the public.

“We have worked closely with key business partner Carphone Warehouse and local boroughs impacted by these offences, to obtain vital evidence and reduce the fear of crime created by these offences."

The gang typically operated in a large group, meeting up and then travelling together to the shop they planned to target - even forcibly separating mothers from their children if they got in the way on the day.

Today the Metropolitan police released CCTV footage of the gang in action:

CLIP 1 (December 1, 2012) At 12.50pm, the Carphone Warehouse shop at 12-18 Station Parade, Barking, where the youths are entering the stores and ripping phones/iPads etc from the wall.

 

CLIP 2 (November 17, 2012): At 3.55pm, the Carphone Warehouse shop in Peninsular Park, Charlton, where a frightened mother rushes to pick up her child before he is caught up in the gang's chaotic rush to exit the store.

 

CLIP 3 (November 19, 2012) : At 2.52pm, the Carphone Warehouse shop at 458 Holloway Road, Holloway, where two of the gang violently struggle with a staff member who tries to stop them fleeing the scene of the crime.