Gumtree scam brothers jailed after PS5 robbery filmed in victim’s home
Brothers who conspired to rob a man of his sought-after PS5 games console have both been put behind bars. The pair were caught on camera in footage that helped convict them
Two brothers who brazenly stole a PlayStation5 from inside their victim’s home have been jailed after home security footage caught them in the act.
Joshua Okello and his younger brother Tyrese stalked Gumtree looking for high-value goods before arriving at Luke Anderson’s home in Hounslow, west London in the weeks before Christmas 2021. Luke bought the sought-after PS5 console for £450 on Amazon, in case his family wanted to give it as a Christmas present.
But as there were were no takers he decided to put it up for sale on selling website Gumtree for £500, in a bid to make a small profit. He had CCTV cameras both outside and inside his home, and luckily for the marketing manager they had been recording when the brothers arrived.
A shaken Luke told the Mirror shortly after the raid in 2021: “One guy asked if he could come to my house. But then he called and asked to meet in a car park by a pub. I thought, ‘Sounds dodgy’. I said, ‘No, you have my address’. I answered the door and one person came in, then a second man, who wasn’t invited, came in. The first man picked up the product and put it back down.
“Then, the second grabbed it and ran out. They ran out the house and I ran out, trying to catch them. I had some builders in the house who ran out with me. I noticed there were more people outside. I’m a big guy but I did stop and think, ‘It’s not worth it. They could have acid or knives, and it’s a PS5’. If it had been an old lady, it could have been terrible. It’s disgusting."
Luke tries to grab the PS5 as one of the men runs off
Despite the video footage, Luke’s insurers originally refused to pay out, but have since changed their minds after coverage of the robbery in the Mirror and he was paid out for his loss. Now almost three years on two of those involved in the robbery have been put behind bars. Joshua Okello, 23, was jailed for three years and nine months for conspiracy to rob. His younger brother Tyrese Okello, 20, was given two years and six months in a young offenders’ institute, also for conspiracy to rob.
Speaking to the Mirror after the brothers’ convictions, Luke, now 40 and a father of one, said: "I gave the footage to the police and told them I have video of them inside and outside the house, I was then called in to do an identity parade, then it went quiet and I’ve finally had a message to say they’ve been convicted.
PS5 thief flees Luke’s home
"I’ve had to move house, my girlfriend was pregnant at the time and it makes you think about the area I want to start a family in. These people knew where I lived, I was afraid to go to my home, I was really concerned and anxious about it all. The robbery was the main factor in us moving.
"I’ve been wary about selling things on Gumtree now, I’m definitely more wary about who is coming, I check how long they’ve been on Gumtree for, have they had good reviews, but also the cameras are so important. If it wasn’t for my RIng camera they wouldn’t have been caught. I have them outside and inside my property and always have them recording if I go out. It just gives me some piece of mind. It’s a good back up to prove what has happened."
Luke Anderson is now a father and moved home ( Image: ©Stan Kujawa)
At the time of the crime in November 2021, the Mirror had identified 60 robberies linked to Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace in the previous five years. But the true figure is believed to be much higher. Both organisations said they give safety tips online.
Gumtree said: “We are appalled to hear of this. We urge anyone who encounters suspicious or criminal behaviour to contact the police and to report it to us immediately through the ‘Report’ button listed next to all ads.” Facebook owner Meta said: “We encourage users to never meet up with a purchaser alone – always take a friend and meet in a well-lit place.”
A Met Police spokesman said: “The Okello brothers carried out a large number of offences across a short period of time, often targeting members of the public who had advertised items for sale. The linked series of offences was taken on by officers from the West Area Command Unit; the Okello’s were quickly identified as suspects and arrested, and stolen items recovered and returned to their owners where we could.
“After a thorough investigation was carried out, the evidence against both was overwhelming leaving them with little option but to plead guilty. Anyone who has been a victim of robbery is urged to get in contact with police as soon as possible so evidence can be gathered and those responsible held to account.”
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
