Group of Robbers Who Used Dating Apps to Lure Victims Jailed
Five men have been sentenced for using dating apps to lure and rob victims in Birmingham
Birmingham, UK, Robbery, Dating Apps, Grindr, West Midlands Police
Birmingham: A group of five guys got themselves in serious trouble for using dating apps like Grindr to lure people in. They’d pretend to be friendly, but then they’d violently attack their victims and steal their stuff. It’s pretty shocking, right?
The crew, made up of Demalji Hadza, Abubaker Alezawy, Ali Hassan, Wasim Omar, and Mohammed Sharif, pulled this off over ten months. They managed to rob folks in Birmingham, racking up over £100,000 in stolen goods. That’s a lot of cash!
They were caught after targeting people at places like Golden Hillock Park and Derby city center. When they finally faced the music in court, they got sentences ranging from 12 to 17 years. Talk about a wake-up call!
Hadza got 16 years and two months, while Alezawy received 16 years and five months. The others got similar sentences. Some of them even pleaded guilty right away, which is a bit surprising.
These guys didn’t just rob people; they were brutal. Victims ended up with serious injuries, like broken bones. They even used their victims’ phones to transfer money while holding them hostage. It’s just awful.
In one case, they pretended to be stranded to trick good Samaritans into helping them, only to turn on them. They wore masks to hide their faces, making it hard for anyone to identify them.
Detective Inspector Tom Lyons said this was a well-planned series of robberies. He praised the victims for their bravery in coming forward, which helped build a strong case against the robbers.
After the sentencing, Detective Constable Sarah Byrne emphasized how important it was for victims to speak up. She hopes this case encourages others to report similar crimes, assuring them that they’ll be treated with care and respect.