Footage shows the dramatic moment police arrest a suspected e-bike phone snatcher following a five-mile high speed chase by air and on London’s roads.
The 36-year-old man is bundled to the ground by officers pursuing on three motorbikes who snared him near Marble Arch.
Metropolitan Police officers received a call from a man who had his iPhone 16 Pro Max worth £1,200 stolen by a mugger on an electric bike at about 4.40pm in Whitechapel Road, Tower Hamlets.
A spokesman said they live tracked the device as a suspect sped through central London, riding dangerously and narrowly missing pedestrians.
The force helicopter relayed video from the sky to direct colleagues on motorcycles and several response cars towards him before he’s finally cornered after a 14-minute chase in Westminster on April 18.
Realising the game is up, he dumps his e-bike and throws himself to the ground waiting to be duly handcuffed.
A 36-year-old man from Islington appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on April 21 charged with driving dangerously and without insurance, assaulting and robbing the victim, and possession of a Class B drug.
He was remanded in custody and is due to appear before Snaresbrook Crown Court via videolink from HMP Pentonville at a later date.
Scotland Yard said: “On Friday, April 18 officers pursued a suspect following a call from the public at 4.37pm.
“The caller stated their phone had been stolen by a man on an e-bike on Whitechapel Road, E1.
“Officers tracked the victim’s phone and were able to pin the suspect to a location near Marble Arch.
“After a 14-minute pursuit by officers, supported by colleagues from the National Police Air Service, officers arrested a 36-year-old man. He was subsequently charged.”
Earlier this week, the Standard reported how Met officers are training on new high speed Sur-ron e-bikes to catch snatchers as part of its fightback against London’s £50 million-a-year trade in stolen smartphones.
Criminals took 70,137 devices last year - one every seven minutes - making the capital Europe’s worst for offending.