Two men have been sentenced to a combined total of eight-and-a-half years in prison for a series of 'calculated' burglaries across London, where they targeted victims using the dating app Grindr.
Deceptive Meetings and Swift Getaways
Rahmat Khan Mohammadi, 22, and Mohammed Bilal Hotak, 21, orchestrated a spree of crimes between October 2024 and March 2025. The pair would arrange meetings with men on the app, gain entry to their homes, and then use distraction techniques to steal personal property. Their haul included approximately 35 mobile phones, along with wallets, passports, and watches.
Once they had the items, they made a quick exit, often to a waiting getaway vehicle. The thieves then accessed the stolen data to make fraudulent payments, withdraw cash, or transfer funds to other accounts.
Metropolitan Police Investigation Unravels the Plot
The Metropolitan Police launched a major investigation after receiving numerous similar reports from across the capital. The force's Specialist Crime Command trawled through extensive evidence, including:
- Hours of CCTV footage
- Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) data
- Phone records and text messages
This work led detectives to identify a string of linked offences over a two-week period. Both men were arrested in April and later charged with a total of 31 counts of burglary, 21 counts of fraud, and two counts of theft.
Sentencing and Impact on Victims
Mohammadi and Hotak, who were found to be part of an organised crime group, were found guilty at Isleworth Crown Court on 4 November. At the same court on 22 December, Mohammadi, of Weald Lane in Harrow, was handed a five-year prison term. Hotak, of Richmond Road in Hackney, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years.
Superintendent Owen Renowden, the Met's hate crime lead who oversaw the case, stated: "Mohammadi and Hotak carried out a series of callous, calculated, pre-planned crimes across London, targeting men and stealing high-value items and money. Their actions had a devastating impact on their victims."
He added that the outcome was down to the strength shown by the victims and thanked the Met's LGBT+ Advisory Group and the charity Galop for their support. Anyone affected by similar abuse is urged to contact Galop on 0800 999 5428 or via help@galop.org.uk.
