Overview

• Undercover neighbourhood officers moved in after spotting suspicious behavior inside the EE shop in St Albans earlier this month.
• Police say 26 iPhones were recovered during the arrests, with reports valuing the devices at nearly £19,000.
• The suspects, a 16-year-old from Dulwich and a 17-year-old from Chelmsford, were detained on suspicion of attempted robbery.
• Both teens were also arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and were bailed on 7 August pending further enquiries.
• Neighbourhood inspector Paul Caro said officers acted on instinct due to unknown risks, framing the intervention as part of efforts to deter shop theft.