Four men have been jailed following a high-value and violent robbery at a mobile phone store in Hastings.
Daniel Larbi, 21, David Larbi, 19, Rio Charlton, 22, and Gavin McCormac, 20, were each sentenced to three years in prison after targeting the Three store in Station Road, Hastings, in a midday raid on December 11, 2024.
Three of the men entered the shop wearing dark tracksuits and face coverings, threatening staff members before forcing their way into the stockroom and accessing a secure safe. They stole a significant number of mobile phones with an estimated value of tens of thousands of pounds.
During their escape, the group pushed a woman to the ground before fleeing the scene in a vehicle waiting nearby, where the fourth man was acting as a lookout and getaway driver.
The incident prompted a swift response from the Sussex Police Roads Policing Unit, which tracked the suspects as they fled the county. The pursuit was picked up by Kent Police and the Metropolitan Police, culminating in a coordinated stop in Bexleyheath, South East London, where all four were arrested.
Following an investigation by Hastings CID, the men were charged with robbery and dangerous driving, and all four admitted the offences when they appeared at Lewes Crown Court for sentencing on April 25, 2025.
The convicted men are:
Daniel Larbi, 21, of Brackenbury Road, Hammersmith
David Larbi, 19, of Brackenbury Road, Hammersmith
Rio Charlton, 22, of Butler Street, West Bromwich
Gavin McCormac, 20, of Otterbourne Court, Halesowen
Each received three years in prison and was disqualified from driving for two and a half years.
Chief Inspector Simon Yates, Hastings District Commander, praised the coordinated police response:
“We responded swiftly to reports of a robbery in Hastings town centre and, thanks to the combined efforts of Sussex, Kent, and the Metropolitan Police, we were able to track and apprehend the suspects quickly.
“This case demonstrates the professionalism and teamwork between forces and ensures these men are now behind bars.”
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