He will likely serve half his sentence before being released
A ‘Cinderella’ phone snatcher who was caught via DNA records after leaving a shoe behind at a crime scene has been hit with 15 months in prison. Spencer Duarte, 29, of Saffron Walden, was tackled off his e-bike by members of the public after snatching a phone from a victim’s hand in Ludgate Hill in the City of London at midday on August 7 last year.
Duarte was dressed as a commuter to evade suspicion, but left a shoe and a rucksack behind as he attempted to escape. In the rush, he dropped three phones, and his rucksack contained a pack of disposable face coverings and two rolls of kitchen foil. The latter is often used by thieves as a faraday pouch to prevent the phone being traced.
Physical Forensics Manager Andrew Walker, of the City of London Police, said: “We were able to get sufficient levels of DNA from the shoe to obtain a single, major profile that was suitable for searching against the National DNA Database.
“This search generated a ‘hit’ to a male whose profile had previously been uploaded. The slipper fitted our Cinderella and we were able to bring him before the courts.”
Police Constable Jake Dean, of the City of London Police, said: “Do not come to the City and think you can steal from residents, workers or visitors without paying the penalty. Our targeted patrols, excellent police work and extensive CCTV will mean you will be caught and brought to justice.
“Phone snatching has a significant impact on victims and our key priority has been to reduce the number of phones stolen and relentlessly target those criminals responsible.”
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