A man from Harrow is among two people convicted for a series of burglaries across London, where victims were targeted using the dating app Grindr.
Two men who carried out a series of burglaries across the capital, identifying their victims through the app, were convicted following a Met Police investigation.
In total, an organised crime group was linked to 35 burglaries and 20 related frauds between October 2024 and March this year, involving 22 victims.
Rahmat Khan Mohammadi, 22, of Weald Lane in Harrow, and Mohammed Bilal Hotak, 21, of Richmond Road in Hackney, were both found guilty of burglary, fraud and theft at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday, 4 November.
The convictions followed what police described as an extensive and complex investigation led by the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, which began in March. Detectives examined hundreds of hours of CCTV footage, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) data, and thousands of phone records and text messages, which enabled them to link Mohammadi and Hotak to the offences.
Superintendent Owen Renowden, the Met’s hate crime lead who oversaw the investigation, said: “Mohammadi and Hotak carried out a series of callous, calculated, pre-planned offences across London, targeting unsuspecting men and resulting in high-value items and money being stolen, and I welcome today’s outcome at court.
“I’d like to praise the victims who have shown great strength throughout our investigation, as well the Met’s LGBT+ Advisory Group and the LGBT+ anti-abuse charity, GALOP, which enabled us to ensure we conducted our work with sensitivity and care.
“The Met is fully committed to ensuring all communities in London feel safe, as well as continuing to enhance the trust and confidence LGBT+ people place in us. Organised crime has a devastating impact on society and will simply not be tolerated.”
Police said reports of phone thefts began surfacing last autumn, with victims targeted in a similar way.
The court heard how Mohammadi and Hotak used Grindr to identify and contact victims before arranging to meet them at their homes. Once inside, they used distraction tactics to obtain mobile phone passwords, then stole the devices before fleeing—often with a getaway car waiting nearby.
They would then use the victims’ personal data to transfer money, withdraw funds, or make payments. In some cases, they also stole passports, wallets and watches.
Mohammadi was arrested on 3 April and charged two days later with one count of theft, 17 counts of burglary and 12 fraud offences. Hotak was arrested on 24 April and charged the next day with one count of theft, 14 counts of burglary and nine fraud offences.
Both men are due to be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court at a later date.
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