"Brazen" Canary Wharf laptop thief escapes prison

By Rob Virtue on March 18, 2013 12:00 PM |

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A thief who stole a woman's laptop at Canary Wharf and then rang her that night offering to sell it back to her has avoided a prison sentence.

Joe Amis, 28, of Grove Street in Deptford, was given a 10 week sentence suspended for 12 months. He had pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court to theft and false representation.

It was at 1.30pm on June 25 last year at Canary Wharf Underground, the 30-year-old victim from Haringey arrived with a wheelie case and a laptop bag.

As she boarded the train she realised she did not have her bag which contained her laptop, passport, credit cards, £500 in cash, a digital camera and jewellery.

That evening Amis called her under a fake name, claiming to have bought the laptop for £500 before finding her documents in the bag.

He agreed to return it the next day but asked for the money he had spent on buying it.

The victim called the police and plain clothes officers went along with her to meet him.

A man approached the victim at Canada Water Tube station and said he would take her to the bag. When British Transport Police officers stopped him he said the bag was with Amis in his car.

The car was searched and the bag was recovered but with the money and jewellery missing.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Andrew Jordan, the investigating officer, said: "The original theft caused great alarm and upset for the victim.

"Amis' attempt to sell the laptop back to her was foolish and a brazen attempt to flout the law and take £500 from the woman.

"He posed as a Good Samaritan but was actually doubly devious in his actions."

Amis was also ordered to carry out 100 hours community service and pay £600 in compensation.