Two teenagers have been charged with a string of offences following a spate of moped robberies centred on the SE1 area over two days.
Police launched an urgent investigation after reports of two men entering an estate agent in St Gabriel Walk, threatening staff with a large knife and stealing their phones at around 4.50 pm on Thursday (January 3).
Police then had reports of two robbers making off on a moped before threatening a number of customers at a coffee shop in New Bridge Street in the City with a large knife and stealing a laptop.
Officers said they managed to link the two moped-enabled crimes to a series of four thefts and attempted thefts in the SE1 area around 1pm the following day.
Detectives arrested two males an hour later in Rotherhithe, recovering a knife, moped and clothing allegedly used in the robberies.
Frankie Batchelor, 18, of Lucey Way, Bermondsey, was charged with: four counts of robbery; two counts of using a vehicle without insurance; two counts of driving not in accordance with a licence; and aggravated vehicle taking.
He was also charged with criminal damage; possession of an offensive weapon; taking and driving away; attempted robbery; two counts of theft from a person and attempted theft from a person.
The eighteen-year-old was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Inner London Crown Court on Monday, February 4.
A fifteen-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also charged with offences including two counts of robbery; attempted robbery; three counts of theft from a person and three counts of attempted theft from person.
He was also charged with breach of a CBO and allowing to be carried on a stolen moped.
The boy is also due to appear at the Inner London Crown Court on Monday, February 4.