Holiday nightmare as opportunistic thief steals luggage on London to Gatwick train

A man who stole a suitcase from a family travelling to the airport has been jailed after a police investigation uncovered his actions.

Ayoub Alshirredi, 31, of Alexandra Road in Hounslow, was handed a 16-week prison sentence at Willesden Magistrates' Court on 20 March. He had already admitted the offence at an earlier hearing.

The court heard that the family had boarded a train at London Bridge railway station shortly after 2pm on 27 October, bound for Gatwick railway station. During the journey, they placed one of their suitcases in the overhead storage area.

Alshirredi boarded the same service and moved through the carriage before positioning himself near the family’s luggage as the train approached East Croydon railway station. As the train pulled in, he seized the suitcase and left the train with it.

It was only upon arrival at Gatwick that the family realised their bag was missing, prompting them to report the theft to British Transport Police.

Officers launched an investigation which led to Alshirredi being identified as the suspect. He was arrested on 27 February and taken into custody for questioning. Despite clear CCTV evidence showing him taking the suitcase, he gave no comment during his interview.

Imogen Gates said:

"I'm pleased that the court have taken Alshirredi’s offending seriously and imposed a custodial sentence. His actions were self-serving and opportunistic, as he targeted a young family going on holiday. In thinking only about himself, he put the family through considerable anxiety and stress, so I hope that they can feel a sense of closure now justice has been served. We take every report seriously, and anyone who witnesses or is the victim of a crime on the railway is encouraged to report it by texting us on 61016."

Image: British Transport Police