Grindr Burglary Duo Sentenced to Prison After Targeting London Men in Calculated Crime Spree

On December 22, 2025, at Isleworth Crown Court, Rahmat Khan Mohammadi, 23, of Weald Lane in Harrow, north-west London, was sentenced to five years in prison. His accomplice, Mohammad Bilal Hotak, 27, of Richmond Road in Hackney, east London, received three and a half years. Mohammadi was convicted of 10 counts of burgling a dwelling, nine counts of fraud by false representation, and one count of theft. Hotak was found guilty of five counts of burgling a dwelling, five counts of fraud by false representation, and one count of theft. The Metropolitan Police Service linked the organized crime group to 35 burglaries and 20 related frauds impacting 22 victims across London from October 2024 to March 2025.

The perpetrators, both Afghan asylum seekers, created fake profiles on Grindr, a dating app popular among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. These profiles often lacked photos or used stolen images, and they arranged meetings at victims' homes under the pretense of dates. Once inside, they employed distraction tactics to gain phone passcodes. A common method involved requesting music on YouTube, as the phone could not be locked during video playback, allowing them to note the passcode. Other excuses included one perpetrator needing a shower, making a drink, or being shown the bathroom, while the other stole the unlocked phone, wallets, passports, watches, or other valuables.

Victims suffered financial losses and emotional distress as the thieves accessed banking apps to withdraw money, make payments, or transfer funds. One victim recounted being led to a park late at night, encouraged to undress, and then robbed of his phone, describing the incident as "invasive and degrading" and expressing ongoing fear of online dating. The court heard that the men selected Grindr not due to hostility toward victims' sexuality but because it provided "easy access" to homes, banking on reluctance to report due to stigma. Defense attorney John Kearney for Hotak noted the app allowed "completely anonymous people to be invited as complete strangers into the homes of the victims."

The Metropolitan Police's Specialist Crime Command launched the probe in March 2025 after noticing a pattern of phone thefts linked to Grindr across London boroughs. Detectives analyzed hundreds of hours of CCTV footage, automatic number plate recognition data, thousands of phone records, and text messages to connect Mohammadi and Hotak. Mohammadi was arrested on April 3, 2025, and charged two days later with one theft, 17 burglaries, and 12 frauds. Hotak was arrested on April 24, 2025, and charged the next day with one theft, 14 burglaries, and nine frauds. Both were convicted following a trial.

Superintendent Owen Renowden, the Metropolitan Police's hate crime lead, described the offenses as "callous, calculated, pre-planned," praising victims' strength and collaboration with the Met’s LGBT+ Advisory Group and the LGBT+ anti-abuse charity GALOP to handle the case sensitively. He affirmed the police's commitment to ensuring LGBTQ+ communities in London feel safe and building trust.

This case underscores safety challenges for LGBTQ+ individuals using dating apps like Grindr, where anonymity can be exploited. Victims' courage in reporting despite potential stigma has been vital, as noted by police and advocates. GALOP provides resources for LGBTQ+ people facing abuse, including crime reporting support . The convictions serve as a deterrent, reinforcing that organized crime targeting any community will face rigorous pursuit. Community leaders emphasize verifying identities and meeting in public first to mitigate risks for gay, bisexual, transgender, and other queer men on such platforms.