Police warn London men after Grindr was used in organised burglary plot

Two men have been found guilty of using Grindr to target victims in a series of burglaries across London.

Rahmat Khan Mohammadi, 22, and Mohammed Bilal Hotak, 21, were convicted of burglary, fraud and theft at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday (4 November). Between October 2024 and March this year, the pair carried out 35 burglaries and committed 20 related fraud offences, affecting 22 individuals, according to the Metropolitan Police.

The investigation, led by the Met’s specialist Crime Command, began in March and involved a detailed review of CCTV footage, ANPR data, and thousands of phone records and text messages. These enquiries linked the two men to each other and to the crimes.

“Mohammadi and Hotak carried out a series of callous, calculated, pre-planned offences across London” – Supt. Owen Renowden

Supt. Owen Renowden, the Met’s hate crime lead who oversaw the inquiry, said: “Mohammadi and Hotak carried out a series of callous, calculated, pre-planned offences across London, targeting unsuspecting men and resulting in high-value items and money being stolen, and I welcome today’s outcome at court.

“I’d like to praise the victims who have shown great strength throughout our investigation, as well as the Met’s LGBT+ Advisory Group and the LGBT+ anti-abuse charity, GALOP, which enabled us to ensure we conducted our work with sensitivity and care.

“The Met is fully committed to ensuring all communities in London feel safe, as well as continuing to enhance the trust and confidence LGBT+ people place in us. Organised crime has a devastating impact on society and will simply not be tolerated.”

The two men are due to be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court

Police said Mohammadi and Hotak contacted victims via Grindr, arranging to meet them at their homes. Once inside, the men would distract victims to gain access to phone passwords, then steal devices and leave in a getaway vehicle. They used the stolen personal information to make payments, transfer money, and in some cases, steal other high-value items including wallets, passports, and watches.

Mohammadi, from Weald Lane in Harrow, was arrested on April 3 and charged two days later with one count of theft, 17 counts of burglary and 12 counts of fraud. Hotak, from Richmond Road in Hackney, was arrested on April 24 and charged the following day with one count of theft, 14 burglaries and nine fraud offences.

The two men are due to be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court at a later date.