Migrant stole £20k worth of tech from pub goers in 4-month sting

A migrant allegedly went on a stealing marathon nabbing £20,000 worth of tech from unsuspecting pub-goers in five bars in London. Algerian Munir Ghilas, 28, allegedly targeted drinkers between July 24 and October 23 this year favouring bars in the popular City area of the capital popular with high-earning drinkers.

Ghilas grabbed a laptop worth £2,700 from Matthew Bourn in All Bar One, on Byward Street in the City on July 24, a court head, and on August 5 he was said to have returned to the same pub to snatch a laptop and others items worth £3,450 from Matthew Bayman and Jacob Wyatt's Apple MacBook.

Ghilas is said to have stolen a £3,500 Apple MacBook from Daniel Lloyd in The Aldgate Tap Public House the next day.He is said to have grabbed four laptops worth £3,750 belonging to Aris Loupas, Jithamithra Burri, Edward Jackson and Michael Miesiarzyzk in The Banker Public House on Cousin Lane in the City on August 15.

Ghilas allegedly stole five laptops worth £7,280 from Nicholas Fletcher, Andrew Bell and Stefan-Howard Rigby at the Lord Raglan pub in Holborn on September 24, and the next day he is said to have grabbed five laptops in The Oyster Shed Public House on Angel Lane, central London.

He then allegedly stole a computer from Christopher Hall in The Banker Public House the same day. Ghilas is also accused of assaulting a police woman on September 25 and handling stolen goods.

Wearing a grey prison tracksuit, Ghilas appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court via video-link, assisted by an Algerian interpreter.

Ghilas denies 16 counts of theft and one of assaulting a constable in the execution of her duty.

Prosecutor Ioan Davies said: "There is extensive offending largely of the same type. The defendant moves between different bars, pubs and restaurants and takes predominately laptops, which the value ranges between £750 to £3,000.

"There is clearly some degree of planning involved. This is because of the nature of the offending.

"The defendant has planned a course of conduct which has been repeated again and again over the course of several months."

District Judge Louisa Ciecióra remanded Ghilas in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Southwark Crown Court on November 24.