Two Afghan migrants have been convicted in London for using the dating app Grindr to target victims in a series of burglaries and scams. Isleworth Crown Court heard that 22-year-old Rahmat Khan Mohammadi and 21-year-old Bilal Hotak carried out around 35 burglaries and more than 20 related fraud cases. They would message lonely men on the app and arrange to visit their homes before stealing from them.
The pair reportedly gained the trust of their victims by asking to play music on their phones. Once the victims unlocked their phones, the men distracted them by asking for a glass of water. As soon as their victims stepped away, they stole the unlocked phones and quickly left the home.
David Patience, the prosecuting lawyer, explained that the men showed no concern for the emotional or financial harm caused. They stole phones, wallets, passports, watches and also used bank details to withdraw money. In some cases, they attempted to take out overdrafts in the victims’ names, and even tried using stolen phones to make payments.
On one occasion, they attempted to withdraw cash inside Merkur Slots casino in Barking. Police investigators reviewed large amounts of CCTV footage, phone data, and messages to connect the two men to the crimes. This evidence linked Mohammadi and Hotak not only to each other but also to the victims they targeted.
Mohammadi, from Weald Lane in Harrow, denied his involvement but was found guilty of 17 burglary charges, 12 fraud charges and one count of theft. Hotak, from Richmond Road in Hackney, was convicted of 14 burglary charges, nine fraud charges and one count of theft.
Superintendent Owen Renowden, who leads hate crime work for the Metropolitan Police, welcomed the court’s decision. He praised the victims for speaking up and thanked the LGBT+ Advisory Group and GALOP, a charity that supports LGBT+ abuse survivors, for helping the investigation stay sensitive and supportive.
He stressed that organised crime causes real harm and will not be tolerated. He also said the police remain committed to ensuring that London’s LGBT+ community feels safe and respected.
Both men will be sentenced on a later date.