Three men, including two from Goodmayes, have been jailed for a robbery in Essex, which was seen by police viewing CCTV on their smartphones.
Akliff Ali, 20, of Mannin Road, wrestled the victim to the ground in Lucy Road, Southend in January.
The man had just left a club and had a large amount of cash in his pocket.
Ervin Balliu, 20, of Medici Close, and Domamiche Scarlett, 23, of Peckham, then held him down while they stole hundreds of pounds from him.
But the trio were arrested within minutes when police turned up and chased after them.
The officers had been viewing council CCTV on their phones when they noticed the attack and rushed there.
Investigating officer Dc Andrew Coles, of Southend CID, said: “This case is a fantastic example of how we use our mobile phones to respond to live incidents.
“The technology was invaluable in helping officers make arrests immediately following the robbery, and the fact that these three offenders have been jailed today is immensely satisfying.
Balliu was found to be in possession of a lockknife when he was arrested.
He admitted robbery and possession of a knife in a public place at Basildon Crown Court and was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment.
Ali and Scarlett also pleaded guilty to robbery and were jailed for 40 months.
DC Coles added: “Thank you to the victim for supporting the investigation. I hope it brings some closure and helps him move on after this awful incident.”
Tags: Essex, Redbridge, Goodmayes, Chadwell Heath, Southend
