The West Midlands Police investigation into a robbery gang that utilised dating apps to target victims was prominently featured on BBC Crimewatch Live. The operation revealed a series of coordinated robberies that took place in Birmingham and Derby over a period of ten months, resulting in the theft of over £100,000.

The police arrested five men who were eventually sentenced to nearly 80 years in total for their crimes. The offences occurred at several locations, including Golden Hillock Park in South Birmingham and Derby city centre, between 2023 and 2024. Detectives uncovered that the group employed deceptive tactics to lure individuals to these locations, presenting themselves as legitimate users of dating platforms such as Grindr.

Detective Inspector Tom Lyons spoke on the BBC programme about the methods employed by the gang, stating that the offenders “planned and committed robberies” while deliberately misleading their victims into believing they were meeting someone genuine. Upon arrival at the arranged meeting point, victims discovered they were facing a fabricated persona. The gang resorted to using the threat of violence, brandishing large weapons to intimidate their victims into submission, ultimately stealing car keys, wallets, and personal identification.

In many of the robberies, the suspects took measures to mask their identities, employing face coverings and obscuring their victims’ faces to further ensure they could not be identified. This pattern of criminal behaviour contributed significantly to the distress faced by the victims, many of whom were left vulnerable and stranded.

The five individuals involved in this criminal enterprise were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on January 13. Demalji Hadza, aged 21, of Erskine Street, Nechells, acknowledged the conspiracy to rob and received a sentence of 16 years and two months. His accomplice, Abubaker Al Ezawy, also 21 and from Baverstock Road, Kings Heath, received a sentence of 16 years and five months. The remaining three men, Ali Hassan, 21, of Albert Road, Lozells, Wasim Omar, 24, of Wardlow Road, Nechells, and Mohammed Sharif, 23, of Keer Court, Bordesley Green, received sentences of 16 years and nine months, 17 years and three months, and 12 years, respectively. They will serve up to two-thirds of their sentences in custody before being considered for release.

The segment on BBC Crimewatch delves into the intricacies of the police investigation, showcasing how officers meticulously connected various pieces of evidence to bring the perpetrators of this troubling series of offences to justice. The public is reminded that such scams can often begin innocently online, building trust before escalating into predatory behaviour.

Source: Noah Wire Services