Zimbabwean man Sammie Govera has been sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison for leading an organised crime gang that stole mobile phones worth £150,000 (approximately US$200,000) from shops across London.
Govera, 32, was identified as the ringleader of a group that targeted six Three and O2 mobile phone stores in different parts of the British capital within just over a week in 2025.
The gang terrorised shop employees before raiding the premises and making off with expensive devices, including iPhones.
Four members of the group were sentenced after being convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery at Croydon Crown Court.
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Govera Gets Lengthy Prison Sentence
Govera received the heaviest punishment, with the court sentencing him to 13 years and six months behind bars for his role in the robberies.
His co-accused received different sentences depending on their involvement in the criminal operation.
Kevlin Duarte, 29, was sentenced to one year and 10 months in a Young Offender Institution, while Louis Pandanzyla, 28, received an 18-month community order that includes 150 hours of unpaid work.
The fourth gang member, who cannot be named for legal reasons because he is a minor, was handed a rehabilitation order with intensive supervision.
Although all four were convicted, only Govera and Duarte received custodial sentences.
Gang Targeted Six Mobile Phone Shops Across London
The group carried out a series of raids on Three and O2 outlets in Lewisham, Woolwich, Wood Green, Haringey, Sutton and Colliers Wood.
During the robberies, the gang allegedly intimidated shop workers before clearing shelves of valuable mobile phones and other devices.
Their activities attracted the attention of the Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad, which launched a surveillance operation to identify and track down those responsible.
Investigators relied on CCTV recordings, mobile phone data and forensic evidence to build their case against the suspects.
Dramatic body-worn camera footage released by the Metropolitan Police shows officers moving in on the group as they attempted to rob an O2 store in Sutton.
Police Describe Gang’s Activities As A Reign Of Terror
Detective Chief Inspector Laura Hillier, from the Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad, said the gang had been stealing devices for profit while subjecting shop employees to intimidation.
“These criminals thought they could terrorise shop staff, steal phones and vanish without a trace. They were wrong. Our detectives worked quickly, piecing together CCTV, phone data and forensic evidence to catch them,” she said.
Hillier added that commercial robberies across London had declined by 13% due to police efforts to pursue and arrest offenders.
She warned that those involved in robbery would be tracked down and brought before the courts.
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