Migrant stole £20k worth of tech from pub goers in 4-month sting | UK | News
An immigrant allegedly went on a burglary marathon, stealing £20,000 worth of technology from unsuspecting pub goers at five London pubs. Algerian Münir Ghilas, 28, is alleged to have targeted drinkers between July 24 and October 23 this year, preferring bars in the capital’s trendy City area, popular with high-income drinkers.
Ghilas took a laptop worth £2,700 from magistrate Matthew Bourn at All Bar One in the city’s Byward Street on July 24 and was said to have returned to the same bar on August 5 to snatch a laptop worth £3,450 and other items from the Apple MacBook of Matthew Bayman and Jacob Wyatt.
Ghilas is said to have stolen an Apple MacBook worth £3,500 from Daniel Lloyd at The Aldgate Tap Public House the next day. He is said to have seized four laptops worth £3,750 belonging to Aris Loupas, Jithamithra Burri, Edward Jackson and Michael Miesiarzyzk at the Banker Public House on Cousin Lane in the City on August 15.
Ghilas is alleged to have stolen five laptops worth £7,280 from Nicholas Fletcher, Andrew Bell and Stefan-Howard Rigby at the Lord Raglan pub in Holborn on September 24, and is said to have seized five laptops at The Oyster Shed Public House on Angel Lane in central London the following day.
Later that same day he allegedly stole a computer from Christopher Hall at The Banker Public House. Ghilas is also accused of assaulting a female police officer and handling stolen property on September 25.
Wearing a gray prison tracksuit, Ghilas appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court via video link with the help of an Algerian interpreter.
Ghilas denies 16 charges of theft and a charge of assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty.
Prosecutor Ioan Davies said: “There are broadly the same types of comprehensive offending. The defendant moves between different pubs, bars and restaurants and mainly takes laptops valued at between £750 and £3,000.
“Clearly there is some degree of planning involved, this is due to the nature of the breach.
“The defendant planned a pattern of behavior that was repeated over and over for several months.”
District Judge Louisa Ciecióra remanded Ghilas in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Southwark Crown Court on November 24.
