Moment mobile phone thieves strike twice in seconds

Alarming footage shows the moment a pair of thugs steal phones from two pedestrians in London before being chased by police officers in a helicopter.

A Metropolitan Police video shows hooded thieves whizzing past their targets on e-bikes, snatching the mobiles from out of their hands within seconds of each other.

These shocking acts were a part of a one-hour spree of phone thefts by the two men across central London - namely in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea.

The victims in the recording can be seen attempting to chase down the duo, but they have already sped off down the road and into the distance.

However, justice was served almost immediately as the criminals were arrested by the force less than two hours after they committed the thefts.

Officers and a helicopter team chased the crooks down, with aerial footage showing a man dressed head-to-toe in black weaving in and out of cars to get away.

At one point, one of the men is seen charging down the road on his bike in the opposite direction of traffic.

Bodycam footage then shows both men with their hands behind their head as tasers are pointed at them by officers at the entrance of their respective front doors.

 The Met arrested both men and they now face a combined sentence of over 5 years. 

In a statement posted on social media, the force said: 'Caught in under 2 hours Officers and our helicopter team arrested two e-bike thieves who committed a series of phone snatches across Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea.'